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ARROWS 


ALMIGHTY 


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THE  LIBRARY 
OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


JUN  2  9  1964 


/** 


ARROWS   OF   THE   ALMIGHTY 


ARROWS    OF    THE 
ALMIGHTY 


BY 
OWEN    JOHNSON 


Nefo  ffork 
THE   MACMILLAN   COMPANY 

LONDON  :  MACMILLAN  &  CO.,  LTD. 
I9OI 

All  rights  reserved 


COPYRIGHT,   1901, 
BY   THE   MACMILLAN    COMPANY. 


Set  up  and  electrotyped  March,  1901.     Reprinted  May, 
June,  July,  August,  September,  1901. 


Norwood  Press 

J.  5.  Cusbing  &  Co.  —  Berwick  &  Smith 
Norwood,  Mass.)   U.S.A. 


PS 


.  ffi. 


1512269 


Arrows   of  the  Almighty 


CHAPTER   I 

WHEN,  in  the  year  182-,  Madame  Crofton  plunged 
Baltimore  society  into  a  furor  by  the  announcement  of 
a  fancy-dress  ball  which,  it  was  rumored,  would  eclipse 
in  splendor  all  similar  functions  in  the  annals  of  the 
historic  city,  Emily  Orkney,  then  an  orphan  of  sixteen 
and  the  ward  of  a  bachelor  uncle,  astounded  her  easy 
going  guardian  by  announcing  one  morning  that  she  had 
made  up  her  mind  to  attend. 

"  God  bless  my  soul !  "  exclaimed  Colonel  Pickstaff, 
dropping  his  eye-glasses,  "  is  the  child  utterly  out  of  her 
head  ? " 

"  No,  uncle,"  said  a  very  sweet  and  very  imperious 
voice,  "  not  utterly  —  and  I  am  not  a  child,  I  am  six 
teen,"  and  she  gave  a  toss  of  her  head  that  sent  the 
blue-black  curls  whirling  across  her  cheeks.  "  I  have 
put  my  foot  down  —  there !  do  you  see  ?  I  shall  go ;  so 
say  no  more,  and  bring  me  my  invitation  to-night." 

The  veteran  of  the  late  war  looked  about  him  help 
lessly.  "  And  will  your  highness  condescend  to  tell 
me,"  he  said  tartly,  "  what  has  put  this  ridiculous  idea 
into  your  head  ?  " 

The  girl  established  herself  on  the  arm  of  an  opposite 
chair,  clasping  her  hands  over  one  knee  and  laughing 
down  at  his  perplexity,  but  with  a  pout  that  refused  all 
other  answer. 

B  I 


2  ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

"  Are  you  going  to  tell  me,  eh  ?  " 

"M-m  —  yes." 

With  a  sudden  spring,  she  ran  to  the  end  of  the  room 
and  courtesied  before  the  tall  French  mirror.  "  Because 
my  glass  tells  me  I  am  young,  uncle."  Then  she  added 
saucily,  when  she  had  danced  back  before  him,  "  and 
very  beautiful." 

"  Great  God !  "  exclaimed  Colonel  Pickstaff,  startled 
into  an  oath,  "  what  next  ?  " 

The  girl  caught  her  hands  behind  her  and  threw  back 
her  head,  glancing  down  at  him  over  her  shoulders  with 
a  sudden  arching  of  her  eyebrows  and  a  tempting  con 
traction  of  her  lips. 

"  Am  I  not  ? "  she  cried,  stamping  impatiently  on  the 
carpet,  "  am  I  not  ?  I  defy  you  to  contradict  me.  Oh, 
uncle,  uncle,  you  can't,  you  can't !  " 

To  his  shame  the  colonel  stared  and  stared  and  found 
no  answer. 

"  And  no  sarcastic  remarks  upon  women,  sir,"  con 
tinued  the  young  lady,  returning  to  her  perch  on  the 
opposite  chair.  "  There !  I  intend  to  enter  the  world, 
to  be  a  terrible  coquette,  to  have  a  court.  M-m,  but 
won't  the  ladies  be  furious  when  I  attach  all  the  beaux  ? 
And  if  you  are  very,  very  good,  and  do  just  what  I  say, 
I  will  tell  you  all  about  the  campaign." 

"  Go  on,  go  on,"  groaned  the  dumfounded  bachelor. 
"What  more?  —  humph!  —  strikes  me  you  are  very 
confident,  miss." 

"  Oh,"  cried  the  girl,  with  a  careless  wave  of  her 
hand,  "  I  have  seen  them  follow  me  with  their  eyes  so 
often,  in  the  streets,  on  horseback,  and  oh,  uncle,  even 
in  the  sanctity  of  the  church!  oh!  oh!  " 

The  colonel  groaned  in  spirit. 

"Who  is  the  reigning  belle  to-day?     Tell  me  that/' 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  3 

she  added,  abandoning  her  perch.  "  Harriet  Fargate  ? 
And  why  Miss  Harriet  ?  Because  Tilghman  Blake  is  in 
her  train.  Now,  uncle,  listen — both  ears.  I  will  give 
him  not  a  week,  not  two  days,  but  just  one  night  — 
the  night  of  the  ball  —  to  come  to  my  feet,  these  very 
feet,  sir,"  she  added,  bending  over  with  a  mischievous 
face  and  drawing  up  her  skirt  to  display  what  the  old 
colonel  acknowledged  in  his  heart  to  be  the  daintiest  of 
feet  and  the  slimmest  of  ankles. 

"  Indeedy,  Miss  Flyaway  !  "  he  growled,  however,  as 
much  astonished  at  her  knowledge  of  the  world  as  at 
her  successive  caprices,  "  will  you  permit  me  again  to 
inquire  the  reasons  of  such  confidence  ?  " 

"You  great  goose  of  an  uncle,"  she  cried,  with  a  rip 
pling  laugh,  her  cheeks,  nevertheless,  giving  symptoms 
of  a  blush  "  why  —  by  —  why  —  by  the  way  he  looks 
at  me,  of  course." 

It  was  on  the  tip  of  her  tongue  to  add,  "  and  by  the  way 
I  shall  look  at  him,"  but  she  curbed  herself,  not  wishing 
to  enrage  him  too  far.  "And  now —  I  am  waiting." 

"  And  so  you  shall  wait,  miss !  "  burst  out  the  latter, 
with  rising  choler.  "  No  more  of  this  nonsense.  Get 
you  an  invitation,  after  such  rigmarole  ?  I'll  be  hanged 
first !  "  and  clapping  on  his  hat  and  snatching  up  his 
cane,  he  flung  himself  out  of  the  door. 

"  Perhaps,"  she  called  after  him,  running  to  the 
threshold,  "but  you'll  get  my  invitation  just  the  same." 

And  she  must  have  been  right.  For  on  the  night  of 
the  ball,  though  Madame  Crofton  had  the  famous  Impe 
rial  Orchestra  down  from  New  York ;  though  General 
Fogy  himself  had  personally  taken  command  of  the  trans 
formation  of  the  hall  until  the  decorations  had  converted 
the  walls  into  hedges  and  bowers,  and  every  pillar  had 


4  ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

become  a  tree  in  blossom ;  though  the  quality  drove  in 
for  thirty  miles  around:  though  a  score  of  statesmen 
and  gallant  officers  marched  and  countermarched  along 
the  hall;  though  in  the  masquerade  a  hundred  heroes 
and  heroines  of  a  hundred  climes  and  ages,  such  as  had 
never  met  before  this  side  the  rolling  Styx,  promenaded 
and  bowed  with  the  utmost  self-possession  to  ancestors 
and  succeeding  generations,  —  still  the  event  of  the  fete 
was  admitted  by  all  the  men  to  have  been  the  introduc 
tion  into  society  of  Emily  Orkney. 

She  had  elected  to  appear  as  Ophelia,  wilfully  scout 
ing  the  notion  of  desecrating  with  powder  her  blue-black 
tresses.  Miss  Fargate,  who  by  a  strange  coincidence 
had  chosen  the  same  character,  was  quite  eclipsed. 
The  men  wavered,  broke  ranks,  and  deserted  en  masse  to 
the  Pretender.  She  received  their  allegiance  as  a  matter 
of  course,  and  smiled  with  perfect  equanimity  at  the  out 
rageous  compliments  of  the  old  beaux,  those  bugbears 
of  debutantes.  Her  cousin,  Roscoe  Pickstaff,  who  had 
not  so  much  as  spoken  to  her  these  ten  years,  hurrying 
up  to  the  edge  of  her  court,  she  promptly  ordered  him  to 
fetch  Mr.  Blake,  and  present  him. 

Mr.  Roscoe,  quite  overcome,  hurried  off,  and  presently 
returned  with  Tilghman  Blake  as  Hamlet  under  his  arm. 

Emily  looked  up  at  him  steadily  with  such  an  arch 
twinkle  in  her  eyes  that  the  noble  Dane,  who  had  cher 
ished  but  one  possible  interpretation  of  the  summons, 
was  entirely  undeceived. 

"  I  have  a  scolding  in  store  for  you,"  said  Ophelia, 
with  a  mischievous  nod.  "  Oh,  but  it  is  a  very  serious 
one.  Come,  give  me  your  arm,  and  invite  me  to  dance." 

Another  Ophelia  was  waiting  to  claim  the  number, 
but  the  mischievous  eyes  had  made  the  traitor  forget  all 
else. 


ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY  5 

"  Is  the  offence  so  serious  ?  "  he  ventured,  puzzled 
what  address  to  assume.  "  Not  beyond  forgiveness,  at 
any  rate,  I  hope,  Miss  Orkney." 

"  That  depends."  The  small  foot  began  to  tap  the 
ground  to  the  strains  of  the  waltz.  He  put  his  arm  about 
her,  and  they  were  off  —  lost  in  the  crowd  of  dancers. 
"  Do  you  know,  sir,  you  have  been  fearfully  rude  to 
me  ? " 

"  What !  rude  ?  " 

"Yes,  rude.  You  have  stared  at  me  wherever  you 
met  me.  I  have  been  most  displeased,"  she  replied, 
frowning.  "  What  answer  have  you  ready,  my  lord 
Hamlet  ?  Oh,  no,  no,  no ;  there,  you  need  not  say  it. 
General  Fogy  has  said  all  that  can  be  said,  I  assure 
you,"  she  cried,  cutting  short  his  gallantry.  "  You  are 
forgiven  —  on  condition  that  you  do  not  apologize." 

Blake  looked  down,  quite  nonplussed,  but  thoroughly 
content,  despite  his  experience,  to  be  so  overridden. 

"  There !  "  she  cried,  as  the  dance  ended.  "  Splendid ! 
There  !  You  are  to  come  back  again.  I  have  chosen 
you  as  my  cavalier  —  Hamlet  for  Ophelia,  you  know." 

Maybe  he  remembered  another  Ophelia  waiting  in 
not  very  good  humor,  alone  in  a  corner ;  but  if  he  did, 
he  forgot  to  rectify  his  mistake.  He  was  delighted  with 
Emily's  fire,  her  enjoyment,  her  spirits,  her  freshness, 
and  (must  it  be  confessed  ?)  her  imperious  ways. 

"  What  a  pretty  child  that  was  you  were  dancing 
with,"  said  Miss  Harriet,  carelessly,  a  little  later. 
"  Who  can  she  be  ?  " 

"  She  is  Emily  Orkney,"  her  partner  answered,  won 
dering  at  her  ignorance. 

"  Emily  ?  Impossible  !  Why,  the  child  is  only  four 
teen.  She  does  make  a  very  pretty  gypsy." 

"  She's  Ophelia  too,"  he  replied  absently.     Emily  had 


6  ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

just  floated  by,  her  black  hair  straying  across  the  dazzling 
white  of  her  throat. 

"  Oph-e-lia !  "  Miss  Harriet  protested,  with  the  rising 
inflection,  but  it  was  lost  on  the  recreant. 

'•'  Why,  yes,  Ophelia.  And  you're  wrong ;  she  must 
be  seventeen,  at  least." 

"  Oh,  I  dare  say,"  she  answered  quickly,  seeing  her 
blunder ;  "  it  is  so  hard  to  keep  track.  What  a  pretty 
girl  she  is  !  —  a  little  cold  in  the  eyes,  don't  you  think  ? 
You  must  dance  often  with  her,  Tilghman.  It  is  her 
first  ball.  Do  you  know  what  that  means  to  a  girl  ? 
Why  I  remember  —  " 

"  What  ? "  he  asked,  as  she  halted. 

"  Never  mind,"  she  said  abruptly.    "  Go,  ask  her  now." 

She  had  been  about  to  say  —  "I  remember  so  well  my 
first."  Miss  Harriet,  though  indisputably  in  the  height 
of  her  charms,  had  been  out  several  years. 

A  moment  later,  as  they  passed,  she  stopped  them, 
crying,  as  she  offered  her  hand :  "  Why,  Emily,  my 
child,  how  pretty  you  have  grown !  You  must  come 
and  sit  with  me,  and  talk  over  the  time  when  I  taught 
you  to  waltz." 

"Oh,  thank  you  —  Miss  Fargate"  replied  Emily, 
dropping  her  eyes.  One  would  have  thought  Miss 
Harriet  her  grandmother,  from  the  air  of  respect  with 
which  Emily  made  her  courtesy. 

When  they  had  resumed  dancing,  she  added  to  her 
partner,  with  a  sly  look,  "  You  have  the  experience  of 
many  years;  still,  I  wonder  if  you  yet  know  the  ways  of 
women ;  "  and  Blake,  who  had  missed  all  the  fine  play 
of  Miss  Fargate's  wit,  understood. 

"  Do  you-all  know  what  they  are  calling  Miss  Far- 
gate?"  broke  in  a  disloyal  voice,  as  her  cousin  appeared 
for  the  quadrille. 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  7 

"  Miss  Fargate  ?      No." 

"  Ophelia's  understudy." 

Emily  clapped  her  hands  and  laughed  outright.  On 
that  moment  she  had  almost  made  up  her  mind  to  for 
give  Roscoe  the  score  of  his  cousinly  neglect  —  almost, 
but  not  quite. 

Colonel  Pickstaff,  who  had  been  a  witness  to  this  little 
scene,  looked  on  delighted.  "  Gad,  what  spirit  she 
has  !  "  he  chuckled  to  himself.  "  How  she  has  routed 
them  all !  I  wouldn't  have  missed  it  for  worlds,"  and 
with  a  wicked  grin  he  moved  over  to  condole  with  Mrs. 
Fargate,  who  had  once  done  him  the  honor  to  refuse 
his  hand. 

When  the  evening  came  at  length  to  a  reluctant  end, 
the  havoc  was  something  fearful.  There  was  but  one 
opinion  among  the  men :  the  surrender  was  given  un 
conditionally.  The  ball  passed  down  into  history  as 
"  The  Rout  of  the  Belles." 

From  that  hour  it  was  a  continual  triumph  for  the 
girl.  Yet,  though  one  after  another  deserted  to  her 
standard,  she  appeared  outwardly  indifferent,  except  to 
the  pleasure  of  conquering. 

"  If  you  are  going  to  make  love  to  me,"  she  would 
say,  with  a  frown,  "  beware !  If  you  will  be  my  friend, 
here's  my  hand  for  good." 

Very  few  long  held  possession  of  that  hand;  but 
when  a  young  girl  has  delivered  her  warning  and 
insisted  upon  a  man's  friendship  —  is  she  to  be  held 
for  the  consequences  ?  Certainly  not ! 

"  Shall  I  marry  ?  "  she  would  exclaim  boldly,  when 
questioned.  "  Oh,  yes,  indeed  !  I  shall  marry  at  twenty, 
the  very  best  match  I  can  make,  too,  I  assure  you.  For 
I  intend  to  have  a  famous  salon,  like  Madame  de  Stae'l, 
you  know,  or  Madame  de  Re"musat,  "  she  would  add, 


8  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

with  a  confidential  air,  to  her  fox-hunting  gallants,  who 
would  look  very  blank,  never  having  met  the  ladies  in 
question. 

Toward  the  close  of  her  second  season,  there  arrived 
in  Baltimore  young  Harry  Gaunt,  heir  of  the  Gaunts 
of  Delaware.  After  the  fashion  of  the  times,  he  had 
spent  an  elegant  leisure  at  Oxford  and  in  Paris,  where 
he  had  conversed  with  Lamartine,  Victor  Hugo,  and 
others  of  the  Romantic  School.  He  was  in  the  heart  of 
his  youth,  brilliant  in  conversation,  "  a  man  of  parts,"  it 
was  said,  in  every  way  fitted  to  make  his  mark. 

Emily  awaited  with  impatience  the  opportunity  of 
trying  the  mettle  of  such  a  champion.  When  he  was 
present  at  a  ball  on  the  second  anniversary  of  the 
discomfiture  of  the  belles,  she  attacked  at  once. 

"  I  have  heard  a  great  deal  of  you,"  she  said,  looking 
him  straight  in  the  eyes,  as  she  had  done  to  so  many 
others  ;  "  so  much  that  I  have  been  afraid  to  meet  you 
lest  you  should  disappoint  me.  Oh,  I  am  going  to  take 
possession  of  you,  I  assure  you.  There  is  no  escape, 
and  you  shall  tell  me  all  about  London  and  Paris.  Do 
you  hear  the  music  ?  Come,  sir,  are  you  going  to  invite 
me  to  dance  ? " 

He  stood  at  her  side,  overtopping  every  one  in  the 
room,  eying  the  slim  girl  that  barely  reached  to  his 
shoulder.  "  I  beg  to  be  excused,  Miss  Orkney,"  he  said 
stiffly ;  "  I  have  just  returned  to  my  aunt's,  and  my  first 
duty  is  to  my  cousin." 

"  What,  a  man  of  duty  ! "  she  cried,  nettled  at  the 
failure  of  her  attempt. 

"  A  gentleman,  I  hope,  Miss  Orkney."  He  bowed 
and  turned  to  go. 

Acting  on  an  impulse  which  she  did  not  stop  to  con 
trol,  she  wheeled  suddenly,  and  said :  — 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  9 

"I  —  I  beg  your  pardon  —  it  was  very  rude.  You  will 
forgive  me,  won't  you,  and  ask  me  for  the  next?" 

"  I  have  heard  of  The  Rout  of  the  Belles,"  he  said, 
drawing  himself  up,  the  strong,  dark  eyes  bent  on  her 
with  a  glimmer  of  amusement.  "They  call  you  her 
Highness  here,  I  believe.  Is  this  too  an  order?" 

She  looked  into  his  eyes,  and  for  the  first  time  in  her 
life  hers  dropped.  "  I  have  been  rude,"  she  repeated ; 
"  it  is  an  entreaty." 

"  Thank  you,"  he  said  hurriedly.  Her  look  and  the 
sweetness  of  her  voice  had  won  where  her  coquetry  had 
failed.  On  that  instant  he  would  have  consigned  duty 
and  his  cousin  to  oblivion  to  have  held  her  in  his  arms. 

They  danced  together  again  and  again — now  silent, 
now  conversing  on  a  dozen  topics  until  all  the  room 
was  talking  of  them.  At  the  end  the  mischief  would 
out  in  her.  "  If  your  duty  made  you  give  your  cousin 
the  first  dance,"  she  said,  stealing  a  sly  look,  "don't 
you  think  you  should  have  danced  with  her  at  least 
once  again?" 

At  such  moments  every  woman  is  a  gambler.  She 
knew  what  was  coming  as  he  looked  at  her  steadily. 
She  hesitated,  seeking  a  chance  to  escape.  "  Tell  me," 
he  said,  "you  are  glad  I  refused  you,  aren't  you?" 

She  was  fairly  answered.    She  turned  her  head  away. 

"  Tell  me,"  he  insisted. 

"  Yes,"  she  replied,  forced  to  meet  his  eyes.  Then 
she  left  him. 

Six  months  later  she  told  her  uncle  of  the  engage 
ment.  Southerner  and  churchgoer  that  he  was,  he 
grew  purple  with  anger.  "  Give  my  consent  to  your 
marrying  a  French  atheist,"  he  burst  out,  "  a  man 
who  admires  Voltaire  ?  Never  !  never !  Marry,  marry 


io  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

if  you  dare;  but  if  you  do,  never  enter  my  house 
again  ! " 

"  I  enter  your  house  again  ?  "  she  cried,  drawing  her 
self  up  to  her  fullest  height,  her  eyes  burning.  "  You 
forgive  me  ?  Sir,  from  this  moment  you  are  dead  to 
me.  You  insult  my  husband.  You  dare  to  oppose  my 
choice  ?  I  say  to  you  from  this  moment  you  no  longer 
exist  to  me,  and  never,  never  shall  I  set  eyes  on  you 
again." 

The  old  fellow  was  quite  overcome  at  her  temper. 
He  ran  to  the  door.  He  entreated  her  from  the  street ; 
but  she  was  gone,  never  to  return. 

People  shook  their  heads  when  the  engagement  was 
published.  Not  a  few  announced  openly  that  they 
pitied  him.  She  would  lead  him  the  deuce  of  a  canter. 
When  Mrs.  Blake  (nJe  Fargate)  read  the  announcement 
she  exclaimed  :  "  Emily  Orkney  married !  Tilghman, 
dear,  who  is  Harry  Gaunt  ?  I  never  heard  of  him,  but 
I  am  afraid  he  will  have  a  hard  time  controlling  her." 

His  back  was  turned  to  her.  He  was  silent  for  a 
moment.  Then  he  said  slowly  :  — 

"  No  ;  if  she  really  loves  him,  they  will  be  happy,  and 
if  she  finds  she  doesn't,  her  pride  will  never  let  any  one 
know  it,  not  even  her  husband." 

"  It  is  her  children  I  pity,"  she  said  abruptly,  and 
that  was  the  common  opinion. 

So  they  were  married,  and  started  away  on  their 
bridal  trip,  and  the  gossips  in  the  pews,  even  as  the 
wedding  procession  passed  down  the  aisle,  were  whis 
pering,  "  I  hope  he  can  hold  her,"  and  not  a  few  de 
clared  openly  that  it  was  a  pity  such  a  promising 
young  fellow  should  have  married  a  flyaway  wife,  who 
hungered  for  society  and  longed  for  nothing  but  ad 
miration. 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  11 

Three  years  after  their  marriage  the  Gaunts  suddenly 
departed  from  Baltimore,  and  retired  to  Belle  River,  on 
the  Eastern  Shore,  where  lay  the  old  family  estates  of 
the  Orkneys.  Mrs.  Grundy  was,  of  course,  triumphant 
Her  prediction  had  come  true.  Poor  Harry  Gaunt! 
In  a  week  Emily  Gaunt's  character  was  scattered  in 
shreds.  What  could  not  be  said  of  her?  When  a  man 
suddenly  carries  his  wife  off  to  the  country,  and  shuts 
her  up  —  "yes,  shuts  her  up,"  says  Mrs.  Grundy,  with 
uplifted  hands,  "  what  ought  not  to  be  said  ? " 


CHAPTER   II 

THE  doctor's  gig  came  to  a  stop  before  the  gate. 
"Black  as  Lucifer  down  that  avenue,"  cried  a  cheery 
voice  from  the  inside,  "Joe,  be  quick  about  it!  Curse 
these  gates."  A  negro  sprang  to  the  ground,  shot  the 
latch,  closed  it  behind  again,  and  was  back  in  the  car 
riage  with  a  speed  that  spoke  well  for  the  master's 
authority.  The  gig  rolled  briskly  ahead  into  the  gloom 
of  the  long  avenue,  where  the  bordering  beeches  and 
maples  hung  as  rustling  curtains  over  the  way,  and 
ahead  the  lights  of  Windrift  glimmered  like  two  rising 
stars. 

"  Hold  that  lantern  out,"  commanded  the  same  voice. 
"Lower  —  that's  it  —  keep  it  there.  Go  on  now  with 
what  you  were  telling  me." 

"  Lor',  Marse  Tom,"  began  a  guttural  voice,  "  I  only 
knows  what  Sol  done  tell  me.  He  say  Mistah  Gaunt 
a-goin'  to  de  debbil  jess  fas'  he  kin  go." 

"  Drinking  ? " 

"  No,  sah,  not  dat.  Sol  say  he  ack  some  time  lak  he 
were  ha'nted.  He  say  he  seen  his  a'm  one  day,  and  it 
were  all  cov'ed  wid  little  black  scratches." 

"  What  ? "  the  master  cried,  now  thoroughly  alert. 
"Did  he  see  that?" 

"  Yes,  sah.  Sol  say  he  take  some  kin'  o'  medicine  in 
his  a'm  make  him  feel  funny.  He  done  tole  me  de  name, 
but  I  clar'  it  clean  gone  out  o'  ma  haid." 

"  Humph,  morphine  ? "  the  other  asked,  after  a  little 
hesitation. 

"Yes,  sah  !  dat's  it  — I  t'ink  dat's  it." 

12 


ARROWS  OF  THE   ALMIGHTY  13 

The  master  drew  in  a  long  whistle  and  said  sharply, 
"  How  did  Sol  know  that  ? " 

"  De  druggis"  man  ober  in  Belle  Ribber  done  tole  him 
so  —  I  spec'  he  see  Mistah  Gaunt  a-gittin'  it  dah." 

"Damn  all  niggers,"  said  the  other  under  his  breath. 
"Well,  it  don't  need  a  nigger  to  see  what's  doing  there." 
Then  he  added  aloud,  "  There  ain't  a  word  of  truth  in  it, 
Joe,  and  don't  let  me  catch  you  repeating  it.  I  reckon 
you'll  be  telling  as  big  stories  about  me  soon." 

"  Fo'  de  Lo'd,  Marse  Tom  !  " 

"  There,  there,"  broke  in  the  other,  "you  know  you  will. 
But  just  let  me  catch  you  once,  and  I'll  sell  you  down 
to  Georgia.  Now  jump  out  —  another  cursed  gate." 

The  sound  of  a  fiddle  drifted  over  from  the  quarters 
as  they  came  to  a  halt  before  the  block,  the  blazing  win 
dows  of  Windrift  at  their  side,  the  tall  white  pillars 
looming  indistinct  over  the  steps.  The  door  opened  with 
a  stream  of  light,  a  couple  of  negroes  in  buff  livery  came 
out,  and  then,  holding  a  lantern  in  front  of  him,  a  short 
man  with  a  broken  nose,  a  shock  of  hair  that  was  red, 
brown,  or  grizzled  in  streaks,  and  quick  eyes  that  seemed 
to  take  in  at  once  every  detail  of  the  scene. 

"Doctor  Magog  —  I  recognize  your  animal,"  said  the 
man  with  the  lantern,  sending  its  beams  into  the  car 
riage. 

"  Coming,  Captain  Brace,  coming,  as  fast  at  this  waist 
band  of  mine  will  let  me.  Hey  —  um  —  hah  !  Give  me 
a  push,  Joe.  There  !  "  and  with  a  tug  and  a  squeeze  a 
round  little  body  landed  on  the  steps.  "  Pretty  tight 
quarters  for  an  old  gourmand,  eh,  Captain  Ned  ? " 
laughed  the  doctor,  patting  his  waistcoat,  and  showing 
a  pair  of  rosy  cheeks,  and  an  eye  ready  for  a  frolic. 

"  Confound  you,  we'd  about  given  you  up,  Doctor," 
greeted  the  captain,  clapping  him  on  the  shoulder  and 


H  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

wringing  his  hand.  "  Good  gad,  think  of  that,  —  it 
would  have  broken  up  the  party.  There's  none  like 
Tom  to  keep  the  fun  going,  is  there  ?  No  one  plays 
such  a  devilish  close  hand,  either." 

"  Go  on,  you're  worse  than  a  woman,  Captain,"  the 
doctor  exclaimed,  highly  pleased.  "  Lord  bless  you,  I 
wouldn't  miss  a  chance  to  get  back  at  Cousin  Bob  Trout- 
man  after  that  last  game  of  ours,  if  I  had  to  walk  here." 

"And  you'll  do  it,  by  gad,  I'll  back  you  to  do  it,"  the 
other  cried,  slipping  his  arm  through  the  doctor's.  "  I 
offered  to  bet  your  cousin  you  would,  just  now.  You 
can  worst  him  six  times  out  of  seven,  you  know  you 
can.  But  I  tell  you  right  now,  Doctor,  that  seventh 
time  any  one's  got  to  go  down.  That's  the  chances  of 
the  game,  eh  ? " 

"  So  it  is,  so  it  is,"  the  doctor  answered,  somewhat 
mollified,  as  they  were  in  the  hall.  "  And  I  never  did 
hear  tell  of  such  a  run  of  cards  as  I  had  that  night. 
Sure  —  there's  Cousin  Bob  now."  He  flung  his  hat  to 
a  servant  and  ran  into  the  parlor,  stretching  out  both 
hands,  crying  briskly,  "Good  evening  —  evening  every 
one  —  Colonel  Spott  —  Cousin  Bob —  Harry  !  " 

Two  gentlemen  in  blue  tail-coats  with  brass  buttons 
and  trim  buff  waistcoats,  who  were  sitting,  or  rather 
reclining,  in  their  chairs  before  the  empty  hearth,  dis 
cussing  a  pitcher  of  apple  toddy,  started  up :  one,  Colo 
nel  Spott,  a  lank,  sharp  man,  with  military  beak  and 
whiskers ;  the  other,  Troutman,  a  large  comfortable 
figure  in  choking  neckcloths,  who  gave  the  newcomer 
a  pudgy  hand  and  said  in  a  piping  voice,  "  Cousin  Tom, 
I'm  your  man." 

A  third  figure,  head  and  shoulders  above  "the  rest, 
erect  and  taciturn  before  the  fireplace,  turned  a  pallid 
face  and  large  black  eyes,  glowing  as  though  they  actu- 


ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY  15 

ally  had  the  power  to  see  in  the  dark  and  advancing 
one  hand  from  behind  his  back,  shook  the  doctor's,  and 
as  quickly  withdrew  it  from  sight  again.  It  was  the 
master  of  Windrift. 

"Thought  I  never  should  get  here,  Harry,"  apologized 
the  doctor.  "  Had  a  patient.  Such  things  will  happen, 
you  know,"  he  chuckled. 

"  It  isn't  late,"  said  the  master  of  the  house  absently  ; 
"  shall  we  begin  ?  What  do  you  say  ?  " 

"  Give  the  man  time  to  wet  his  whistle,  Harry,"  broke 
in  Captain  Brace.  "Did  you  ever  see  such  a  one  for 
the  cards  ?  Sol,  hand  up  that  apple  toddy.  Tom, 
a  glass  ? " 

"  A  glass  ?  yes,  yes  !  "  answered  the  doctor,  and  then, 
noticing  his  host's  impatience,  he  cried,  with  a  cock  of 
his  eye,  "  Come  on,  gentlemen.  I,  for  one,  say  let's  get 
down  to  work.  Cousin  Bob,  be  on  your  guard  to-night, 
I  must  have  my  revenge." 

The  master  of  the  house,  looking  relieved,  called  a 
servant  and  gave  orders.  The  candelabra  were  taken 
from  the  mantel  and  placed  on  the  table.  The  gentle 
men,  without  further  urging,  drew  out  the  chairs,  the 
cards  were  brought,  shuffled,  and  cut,  and  the  play 
began.  The  burst  of  candles  threw  a  circle  of  light 
upon  the  table,  strewn  with  the  color  of  cards  and  the 
flash  of  coin.  Beyond  their  pale  the  great  drawing- 
room  fell  back  into  shadow  and  dusk,  out  of  which,  at 
one  end,  loomed  a  high  balcony.  In  the  fireplace  the 
sticks  had  died  down  to  cinders,  while  along  the  walls  the 
negroes  glided  noiselessly,  watching  the  play, — figures 
with  rolling  white  eyes,  indistinct  as  the  shallow  paint 
ings  above.  Within  the  circle  the  faces  of  the  five 
players  stood  out  against  the  blackness,  each  varying 
emotion  showing  in  the  light  of  the  candles,  that  light 


1 6  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

which  alone  seems  to  draw  to  the  surface  the  innermost 
thoughts  of  men. 

"  Hello !  here's  John,"  said  Troutman,  as  the  door 
suddenly  opened,  and  a  boy  of  twelve  or  thirteen,  over 
grown  and  awkward,  came  in.  He  shook  hands  with  the 
guests,  and,  somewhat  constrained  and  conscious,  took  a 
stand  at  the  side  of  his  father,  looking  on  curiously  from 
under  his  stern,  sharply  arched  eyebrows.  At  times  he 
shifted  about  the  table,  his  strong  gray  eyes  staring 
at  the  players  with  that  insistent  inquisitiveness  of  child 
hood  which  renders  its  object  uneasily  aware  of  being 
analyzed. 

"  Curse  the  luck,"  at  length  burst  out  Doctor  Magog, 
throwing  down  his  cards.  "Cousin  Bob,  I  don't  call 
this  revenge." 

"Cousin  Tom,  I  agree  with  you ;  you  are  right,  sir  — 
it  is  not  your  revenge,"  Squire  Troutman  replied,  inflat 
ing  his  cheeks  and  rolling  his  little  eyes  slyly  at  the 
rest.  "  It's  that  patient,  Tom,  that's  done  it." 

"Gad,  I  believe  you're  right,"  the  doctor  muttered, 
shrugging  his  shoulders.  "  I  believe  Joe  Gamage  did  it." 

"  What,  that  old  infidel,  Joe  Gamage  ? "  Colonel  Spott 
cried  out,  with  a  couple  of  army  oaths.  "  Is  that  old 
heathen  down  ? " 

"  Dead,"  the  other  said  shortly. 

"  What ! " 

"Dead." 

At  this  there  was  a  burst  of  exclamations  from  the 
table,  and  even  Harry  Gaunt,  who  had  been  impatiently 
fingering  his  pile  of  coin,  started  in  his  chair,  and  then 
with  an  effort  dropped  his  head,  covering  his  eyes  with  a 
hand  of  even  more  striking  pallor  than  his  forehead. 

"And  what's  more,"  said  the  doctor,  in  answer  to  the 
storm  of  questions,  "  he  went  off  in  a  funk ! " 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  17 

"Tom,  Tom!  what's  this  story?"  exclaimed  Trout- 
man.  "What  ?  the  old  atheist  died  in  a  funk  ? " 

"  In  a  funk  ?  Gad,  I  wish  you'd  'ave  been  there.  In 
a  funk  ?  Why,  he  bellowed  and  shrieked  like  a  stuck 
bull.  I'm  a  professional  man  now,  but  I  tell  you,  gentle 
men,  I  never  was  so  moved  in  all  my  life.  He  died,  sir, 
in  absolute  fear — in  abject  terror,  sir  —  and  damn  me, 
I  wish  I  hadn't  seen  it." 

"  Good  God,  Doctor,  enough,  enough ! "  here  broke 
in  Captain  Brace.  "  Why,  you've  thrown  a  chill  over 
us  already.  A  fine  story  to  tell  at  a  nice  sociable  party. 
Here,  Sol  —  where  the  devil  is  that  nigger?  Here, 
bring  round  that  brandy;  this'll  never  do." 

"  Right,  Ned,  you're  right,  my  boy,"  assented  the 
doctor,  recovering  his  spirits.  "  And  none  will  drink 
deeper  than  I.  But  it'll  take  a  taller  glass  than  this  to 
drown  out  to-night's  doings,  hang  me  if  it  won't." 

He  held  up  his  glass  throwing  a  curious  glance  toward 
the  end  of  the  table.  Gaunt  alone  had  not  said  a  word, 
waiting  restlessly,  his  eyes  fixed  on  the  cloth,  his  fingers 
running  nervously  through  the  cards.  When  the  inter 
ruption  passed  and  the  game  was  about  to  proceed  a 
look  of  relief  passed  over  him.  He  pushed  the  pack 
toward  the  next  dealer,  and  then,  as  though  to  screen 
from  detection  the  emotions  of  his  face,  again  drew  the 
slim,  bone-white  hand  before  his  eyes. 

During  the  diversion  the  boy  had  made  his  way  un 
noticed  along  the  table  until  he  had  reached  his  father's 
side.  Just  as  the  party  were  settling  to  their  cards,  he 
laid  his  hand  upon  the  elder's  arm  and  asked  simply, 
looking  up,  "  Why  should  he  fear  to  die,  sir  ? " 

The  effect  was  extraordinary ;  as  though  stung,  the 
white  hand  started  from  its  place,  and  Gaunt,  wheeling 
in  his  chair,  stared  at  the  boy  with  eyes  of  fear.    Doctor 
c 


1 8  ARROWS   OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

Magog  and  the  sharp  colonel  looked  up  suddenly,  and 
the  affair  was  becoming  decidedly  uncomfortable  when 
Captain  Brace  gave  one  of  his  rumbling  laughs  and  drew 
the  boy  away. 

"  Dear,  dear !  what  are  the  young  ones  coming  to !  " 
he  exclaimed  quickly.  "  No  more  interruptions,  young 
man,  from  the  audience." 

A  flutter  of  the  cards  and  the  hitch  was  tided  over 
in  the  eagerness  for  the  game.  Henry  Gaunt  returned 
behind  his  hand,  again  the  gambler,  with  eyes  for  noth 
ing  but  the  game.  The  tide  had  set  in  strongly  against 
him,  but  no  sign  in  him  betrayed  the  run  of  the  cards. 
What  to  the  others  was  a  mere  pastime  was  to  him  a 
passion.  Whether  he  won  or  lost,  not  a  muscle  changed, 
not  a  tone  of  his  voice  was  different.  He  never  chuckled 
at  a  happy  stroke  like  Doctor  Magog;  when  the  luck 
ran  the  other  way,  he  never  accused  the  cards  like  Cap 
tain  Brace,  who  was  always  swearing  the  bottom  out  of 
heaven  and  hell  whenever  a  dollar  departed. 

A  stranger  would  have  said  that  not  he,  but  Captain 
Brace,  was  the  host.  The  latter  gave  the  orders,  sum 
moned  the  servants,  proposed  the  toasts,  and  had  his 
quick  eyes  roaming  constantly  over  the  room,  lest  the 
slightest  action  should  escape  him.  Colonel  Spott,  over 
the  cards,  followed  curiously  this  assumption  of  authority, 
and  drew  his  own  conclusions.  He  was  unusually  bluff 
and  curt  even  for  a  man  of  the  stripe,  and  on  the  several 
occasions  when  Captain  Brace's  glance  met  his  eye,  he 
returned  the  look  so  fixedly  that  the  latter,  who  had  an 
unpleasant  habit  of  looking  others  down,  retired  uneasily. 

"What  do  you  think  of  that,  Cousin  Bob? "  cried  the 
doctor,  rubbing  his  hands. 

"Curse  the  luck,"  piped  Troutman,  pushing  over  his 
money  with  a  scowl. 


ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY  19 

"  The  luck  is  with  you  to-night,  Tom,"  added  Brace, 
"  and  gad,  how  you  do  play  it." 

Colonel  Spott,  too,  tossed  over  his  mite  with  an 
avalanche  of  oaths.  Gaunt,  without  a  word,  counted  out 
a  stack,  slid  it  over,  and  wrote  his  name  on  a  slip  of 
paper  against  another  heap  of  coin  as  coolly  as  though 
it  were  all  done  in  a  banking  house. 

So  the  game  went  on,  the  doctor  radiant  and  rapidly 
erecting  a  breastwork  of  gold  and  silver  before  him,  of 
which  his  cousin  contributed  some,  and  Gaunt  the  major 
part,  when  an  interruption  came  in  the  person  of  a 
negress,  who,  peering  with  white  eyes  around  the  door, 
sought  by  frantic  beckonings  to  attract  the  attention  of 
the  young  master,  who  either  did  not  or  would  not  see. 
At  length  Uncle  Sol,  leaving  the  shadowy  wall,  with 
many  grins  shuffled  over  and  said  something  in  the 
young  fellow's  ear,  at  which  he  started  up  hotly  and 
turned  an  angry  shoulder.  The  darkey  stood,  scratching 
his  head  and  muttering  to  himself,  until,  after  many  urg- 
ings  from  the  impatient  messenger  at  the  door,  he  plucked 
up  courage  to  shuffle  his  way  to  the  other  side  of  the  table. 

"  Captain  Brace,  sah,"  he  said,  with  a  scrape  and  a 
bob,  "  Liza  have  sent  wo'd  Marse  John  should  come  to 
bed,  sah." 

Brace  raised  his  head  and  sought  out  the  boy.  A 
change  had  come  over  John.  His  face  went  quick  with 
anger. 

"  I  won't,"  he  exclaimed,  stamping  his  foot,  his  eyes 
beginning  to  flash  under  the  falcon  eyebrows.  "The 
servants  shall  not  order  me  round." 

At  this  a  titter  ran  about  the  table ;  the  doctor 
laughed  outright,  but  Gaunt  looked  up  full  of  delight 
at  the  boy's  spirit  and  sudden  temper. 

"  Come  here,"  he  called ;  and,  catching  John  by  the 


20  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

shoulder,  he  held  him  at  full  length.  "  What  a  little  fire 
brand  !  Won't  be  ordered  about  by  women,  hey  ?  " 

"I'll  do  what  j0#  say,  sir,"  the  boy  cried  impetuously, 
his  eyes  filling  with  tears  of  anger ;  "  but  I  won't  take 
orders  from  a  servant,  never,  never ! " 

"  Servants  ? "  repeated  the  father,  "  not  even  if  I  com 
mand  it?"  John  hesitated  and  then  shook  his  head 
doggedly.  "And,  by  Heaven,  you  shan't,"  the  father 
instantly  exclaimed,  his  eyes  snapping  with  pride. 
"  There's  a  boy  of  spirit,  gentlemen  ! " 

"Then,  sir,  I  may  stay?"  asked  John,  his  face  grown 
radiant. 

With  a  mind  to  try  him  further  Gaunt  looked  quizzingly 
into  his  eyes.  They  were  hard  eyes  to  meet,  frank  and 
curious. 

The  father's  glance  wavered  a  moment,  and  then  sud 
denly  dropped  to  where  his  hand  lay  upon  his  son's 
shoulder.  Instantly  his  eyes  remained  fixed — fascinated. 
His  whole  manner  changed.  His  self  seemed  suddenly 
to  rise  up  and  confront  him.  The  boy  repeated  the  ques 
tion  uneasily.  Gaunt  did  not  hear  him  —  he  was  still 
staring  with  dreamy  intentness  at  his  hand,  which  had 
now  slipped  to  the  table. 

Troutman  was  gazing  stupidly  ahead,  the  doctor  whis 
tling  to  himself,  Colonel  Spott  watching  the  scene  out  of 
the  corner  of  his  eye,  when  Captain  Brace,  leaning  over, 
caught  Gaunt  by  the  arm  and  shook  him  roughly  to  his 
senses. 

"  Here,  Harry,  take  the  pack,"  he  cried,  with  sudden 
authority,  forcing  the  cards  into  his  hand.  "  Take  the 
pack,  I  say,  and  shuffle  them.  What  shall  we  do  with 
the  young  one  ? " 

At  his  sharp  voice  Gaunt  stiffened  up,  swept  the  room 
with  a  wild  look,  dropped  his  head  quickly,  and  began 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  21 

mechanically  to  shuffle  the  cards,  saying  absently,  "  Send 
him  to  bed." 

John  wheeled,  puzzled  at  his  father's  change  of  man 
ner,  bowed  rigidly  to  the  table,  and  stalked  from  the 
room.  Liza  had  wisely  disappeared.  He  climbed  the 
stairs  and  passed  out  on  the  balcony.  From  above 
the  circle  of  light  seemed  to  have  suddenly  contracted. 
Doctor  Magog  was  clinking  glasses  with  the  colonel, 
Captain  Brace  was  calling  for  a  new  decanter,  the  father 
was  hanging  with  fixed  intensity  on  the  face  of  the 
cards  — a  statue  of  the  gambling  passion  done  in  granite. 
The  deal  was  given,  and  instantly  the  hum  died  into 
silence,  and  on  the  instant  each  face  assumed  a  mark  of 
absorption.  A  moment  the  boy  looked  down  into  the 
arena  before  he  passed  on  and  the  room  dropped  sud 
denly  behind  the  door.  He  was  too  young  to  under 
stand.  He  was  not  too  young  to  notice  and  to  remember. 


CHAPTER   III 

AT  the  landing  lingered  the  offending  Liza,  candle  in 
hand,  waiting  to  light  the  way.  John  stopped  short 
and  stretched  out  his  hand,  saying  stiffly,  — 

"Give  it  to  me."  He  never  dreamed  of  showing 
anger  before  a  servant.  "And — you  needn't  come 
with  me." 

"  Bress  de  Lo'd,  chile,"  the  old  mammy  cried,  aghast 
at  such  manners  from  the  boy  she  had  watched  over 
from  the  cradle,  "  what  am  de  matter  wid  you  ?" 

"Will  you  go?  "  John's  eye  began  to  kindle,  despite 
his  self-control.  "  Will  you  go  this  instant  ?  for  not  a 
foot  will  I  move  until  you  do." 

"Golly,  Marse  John,  I'se  not  keepin'  you,"  burst 
out  Aunt  Liza,  quite  dismayed.  "It's  yo'  ma  wants 
you." 

"You  should  have  said  so,"  came  the  reply;  and  with 
a  frown,  but  without  surrendering  a  jot  of  his  dignity, 
the  boy  turned  on  his  heel,  knocked  at  the  end  of  the 
hall,  and  entered. 

A  slender  figure  stood  at  the  window,  her  hands 
locked  behind,  her  head  thrown  back,  looking  up  into 
the  moonlight.  At  the  shut  of  the  door  she  turned 
and  came  gracefully  forward,  holding  out  her  arms,  the 
wistful  look  in  the  eyes  changing  to  a  smile  of  great 
tenderness. 

At  the  sight  of  his  mother's  face  the  boy's  fortitude 
vanished.  He  threw  himself  into  her  arms  and  broke 

22 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  23 

into  passionate  weeping.  She  bent  over  him,  the  gray 
curls,  strange  about  her  young  face,  mingling  with  his 
brown  locks,  her  mother's  instinct  guessing  the  storm 
that  raged  in  the  young  breast. 

"  Oh,  mother,  mother,"  he  cried  tempestuously,  "  why 
am  I  to  be  treated  like  a  child  ?  I  can't,  I  won't  be 
commanded  by  servants.  It  just  breaks  my  heart.  I 
sometimes  want  to  run  away." 

"  I  overheard  you  to-night,  dear,"  she  said,  in  the 
quiet  voice  that  never  failed  to  still  his  turbulence. 
She  ran  her  fingers  through  his  hair,  looking  down  into 
the  gray  eyes  that  matched  her  own,  and  said  with  hesi 
tation,  "  I  happened  to  be  passing  on  the  balcony.  I 
am  sorry  that  it  hurt  you.  Never  mind  ;  Eliza  shall  give 
you  no  more  orders." 

A  smile  of  happiness  broke  through  the  tears.  He 
flung  himself  into  her  arms  again,  and  she,  with  the 
hot  cheek  against  her  cool  one,  gazed  up  at  the  wall. 
"  And  so  you  want  to  be  a  man,"  she  said  softly.  "  He 
wants  to  be  a  man  —  a  man,"  and  the  look  in  her  eyes 
was  far  away. 

They  were  remarkably  alike,  the  son  and  the  mother, 
as  they  stood  together.  He  had  not  only  her  eyes,  but 
also  her  arching  brows  and  the  proud  carriage  of  the 
head.  Hers  was  a  sad  face,  of  that  nature  which, 
unable  to  bend,  too  often  is  fated  to  break ;  but  as  she 
leaned  over  her  son  a  smile  lighted  up  the  eyes,  and  made 
them  glorious.  She  was  quiet  so  long  that  at  length  he 
noticed  it  and  looked  up  curiously.  "  I  cannot  come  to 
your  bedside  to-night,  dear,"  she  said  abruptly,  averting 
her  face,  "  so  put  your  arms  around  me  again  and  say 
good  night." 

He  did  as  he  was  bid  —  he  v/as  always  under  the 
spell  of  her  words  —  and  turned  his  face  up  for  her  kiss. 


,  24  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

Then,  with  a  smile  of  elation,  he  nodded  eagerly  over 
his  shoulder  and  ran  from  the  room. 

At  the  landing  he  seized  the  candle  from  the  yawn 
ing  Liza,  even  condescending  to  throw  her  a  look  of 
recognition,  as  he  skipped  along  the  corridor  and  gained 
his  room,  swelling  with  his  new  freedom.  The  low  win 
dow  was  open,  the  room  luminous  with  the  summer 
night.  He  put  down  the  candle,  of  a  sudden  grown 
pale,  and  passed  out  along  the  gallery. 

The  flush  moon  was  low  on  its  downward  path,  dip 
ping  its  lumbering  body  into  the  horizon.  The  sky  was 
now  free,  without  a  cloud  against  the  stars.  The  mel 
low  light  suffused  the  garden  and  veiled  the  fig  trees 
and  the  pomegranates  with  its  molten  sheen,  revealed 
the  greensward,  glittered  on  the  white  sides  and  the 
glass  roofs  of  the  conservatory,  and  in  the  distance 
touched  the  winding  outlets  of  the  bay  with  flashes  of 
silver  fire.  The  air  was  vibrant  with  summer.  From 
the  bushes  rose  the  shrill  voice  of  the  katydid  and  the 
pipe  of  the  cricket.  Beyond  in  the  branches  the  whip- 
poorwill  was  complaining  and  the  tree-toad  clamoring, 
while  from  ditch  and  pond  and  puddle  answered  the 
guttural  note  of  the  bullfrog  and  the  sharp  tink-tank- 
tink-tanker  of  the  turtle.  As  though  in  search  of 
hidden  melodies,  innumerable  fireflies  flashed  their  fairy 
lanterns  through  the  gardens.  Even  the  church  bell, 
sounding  from  the  gleaming  belfry  in  the  distance,  had 
its  brazen  note  of  noon  attuned  to  melody.  It  was  a 
night  when  the  harmony  of  the  skies  awakes  the  poetry 
of  earth. 

The  boy,  clinging  to  the  railing,  gave  himself  up  to 
the  subtle  charm  of  the  night,  which  covers  the  naked 
ness  of  man's  handicraft  and  hides  all  ugliness  in  the 
mystery  of  its  shadows.  He  was  seized  with  a  great 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  25 

longing  to  roam  the  glowing  fields,  to  skirt  the  river 
banks,  to  be  off  and  away  from  the  sound  and  the  sight 
of  human  beings.  He  saw  the  moon  pass  below  the 
fringe  of  woods  and  out,  like  the  shut  of  a  great  eye. 
He  crossed  into  the  room,  snuffed  the  candle,  swung 
from  the  gallery  to  the  drain,  and  dropped  to  the  ground. 
The  windows  of  the  hall  flared  out  at  his  very  side.  A 
moment  he  shrunk  against  the  wall,  breathless,  as  a 
burst  of  laughter  broke  out  within  ;  then  he  began  to 
move  down  the  greensward  slowly,  through  the  hum 
of  the  insect  orchestra. 

From  the  gallery  he  had  felt  only  the  mystery  of  the 
under-world.  Now  that  his  feet  were  on  the  soil,  every 
thing  faded  away,  the  earth,  insect,  bird  and  beast,  tree 
and  bush  and  lawn  —  faded  utterly,  and  only  the  night 
and  the  stars  abided,  and  a  child  lifting  his  face  to 
eternities.  The  day,  which  is  man's  to  change  the  face 
of  the  world,  to  strew  the  waters  with  strange  shapes, 
to  bind  the  continents  with  shackles  of  steel,  to  level 
the  forests,  to  mingle  the  rivers,  to  people  the  wilder 
ness,  —  the  day  world  had  vanished.  As  the  sea  wipes 
away  the  wind's  path  across  the  sand,  so  the  night 
obliterates  the  centuries,  and,  reclaiming  all  in  its 
shadow,  returns  all  to  the  primal. 

Throbbing  with  the  growing  vponder  of  the  hour,  the 
child  searched  the  heavens  —  that  changeless  world 
that  saw  the  Hun  and  the  Vandal,  the  Roman  and  the 
Greek,  the  Egyptian  and  the  Assyrian,  and  the  waters 
and  the  glaciers  before,  that  knew  no  man.  Full  in 
front  of  him,  dominating  the  constellations,  burned  the 
great  star  of  Venus.  He  looked  and  the  star  receded. 
He  stopped  to  gaze,  and  all  at  once  the  star  seemed 
to  separate  from  the  sky  and  to  draw  him  up,  up,  up, 
high  above  the  world.  Behind  him  the  myriad  eyes  of 


26  ARROWS   OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

the  night  had  closed.  He  felt  endless  lines  of  distance 
cleaving  the  sky.  He  seemed  to  be  fluttering  in  mid 
air,  and  in  a  sudden  dizziness  covered  his  eyes  with 
his  hands.  Then  all  at  once  the  spell  snapped  and  he 
was  back  with  the  feel  of  the  sod  beneath  his  feet. 

Until  now  he  had  known  the  heavens  only  as  an 
emblazoned  bowl  that  shut  over  the  earth  and  extin 
guished  the  day.  Now  he  felt  the  immensity  of  space, 
and  the  dormant  power  of  thought  began  to  stir  within 
him.  He  had  pierced  the  veil,  he  was  searching  beyond 
for  the  secrets  of  creation. 

Suddenly  a  dog's  cold  nose  poked  against  his  hand, 
and  one  of  the  house  collies  fawned  at  his  side.  The 
boy  put  his  hand  on  the  dog's  head  and  with  him  passed 
through  the  arch  in  the  wall  that  opened  into  the  family 
graveyard,  treading  fearlessly  among  the  cold  tomb 
stones  under  the  cedars,  making  his  way  beyond  into 
the  fields  that  led  to  the  water.  There  he  stopped  and 
sent  the  dog  whimpering  home.  Then,  free,  utterly 
alone,  he  went  on  down  the  narrow  threading  path,  his 
head  exalted,  his  eyes  challenging  the  firmament. 


CHAPTER   IV 

WHEN  Liza  came  bustling  into  the  room  again,  Emily 
Gaunt  had  returned  to  the  window,  and  was  standing  in 
her  characteristic  pose,  the  hands  clasped  behind  the 
girlish  figure,  the  head  tilted  back,  so  that  the  moonlight 
bathed  the  gray  masses  of  her  hair  with  its  lustre.  Over 
the  mantel,  opposite  the  big  tester  bed,  hung  a  canvas 
—  a  young  girl  with  dancing  eyes  and  arched  brows, 
smiling  down  from  under  clouds  of  waving  hair,  black 
with  a  tinge  of  blue.  Often  Lizar  coming  in  on  tiptoe, 
would  find  her  mistress  looking  up  at  the  picture  with  a 
wistful  smile :  her  hair  had  been  gray  seven  years.  It 
was  a  family  trait,  Doctor  Magog  took  care  to  inform 
the  county  tea-tables ;  all  the  Orkneys  were  the  same. 
Her  mother's  hair  was  gray  at  thirty  and  her  grand 
mother's  at  twenty-two.  Mrs.  Troutman  and  Colonel 
Spott's  lady  actually  laughed  in  the  doctor's  face ;  they 
preferred  their  own  explanation. 

Liza  moved  noisily  about  the  room,  and,  as  she  made 
her  preparations  for  the  night,  she  cast  nervous  glances 
toward  the  window,  until  at  length,  come  to  the  end  of 
her  duties,  she  ventured  on  a  subdued  "  Mis'  Em'ly." 
At  her  call,  the  mother  left  the  window  and  came  for 
ward,  the  glow  fading  from  her  eyes,  back  to  the  dim-lit 
room  and  the  real. 

"  Honey,  you'se  gwine  to  lie  down,  isn't  you  ? "  Aunt 
Liza  began,  looking  up  fondly.  "You  tire  yo'self  all 
out  a-sittin'  up  y'here  o'  nights.  Lie  down,  honey ; 

27 


28  ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

dere's  no  tellin'  when  dey's  gwine  to  get  t'rou'  down 
dah." 

"  I  will  lie  down,"  the  mistress  said,  inclining  her 
head ;  "  wait  in  the  other  room." 

She  moved  toward  the  bed  and,  with  a  quick  turn  of 
her  skirt,  cast  herself  upon  it.  Aunt  Liza,  shifting  awk 
wardly  from  foot  to  foot,  still  lingered  in  the  centre  of 
the  room. 

"He  —  he  —  berry  bad  to-night,  Miss  Em'ly  —  berry 
sick,  I  spec,"  she  began  tentatively,  pulling  at  her  fin 
gers.  "  Dat  ole  doctor,  wid  all  his  talk  'bout  dat  Gamage 
man,  has  set  him  off,  I  spec." 

"Wait  in  the  other  room,  Liza,"  came  the  order. 
"  Place  the  candle  behind  my  head  and  knock  when 
they  are  gone." 

"  Yes,  Mis'  Em'ly.  And  —  and  honey  —  den  — 
den  you  lemme  wait  outside  de  do'  so  as  you  kin  call 
me  —  you  gwine  do  dat,  isn't  you  ?  Sometimes,  Mis' 
Em'ly,  you  know  —  " 

The  slave's  devotion  touched  her.  "  You  are  a  good 
girl,  Aunt  Liza,"  she  said  softly.  "  Yes,  wait  in  the  next 
room  afterward,  and  I  will  call  —  if  it  is  necessary." 

The  next  moment  the  old  negress  had  flung  herself 
down  at  the  feet  of  her  mistress,  tears  pouring  down  the 
wrinkled  cheeks.  "  Oh,  Mis'  Em'ly,  Mis'  Em'ly,  the 
Lo'd  will  rewa'd  you,  de  Lo'd  will  rewa'd  you  in  de  king 
dom  come.  Oh,  honey,  if  you  only  lemme  stay  wid  yo, 
ye  kin  sell  me  to  de  Georgia  man  ef  I  ever  say  a  wo'd." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ? "  The  mistress'  voice  was  now 
cold  and  forbidding  and  her  face  grew  set.  "  You  for 
get  yourself,  Liza.  Now  go  !  " 

The  slave,  abashed,  muttering  apologies,  beseeching 
forgiveness  with  her  eyes,  started  to  her  feet,  hesitated, 
and  sidled  from  the  room. 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  39 

It  is  said  that  all  strong  individualities  have  one  pre 
dominating  note  —  whether  ambition,  selfishness,  rever 
ence,  affection,  or  what  not  —  which  shapes  their  every 
action.  With  Emily  Gaunt  this  note  was  pride  —  some 
what  of  the  feeling  that  nerved  the  Spartan  boy,  who, 
rather  than  be  detected  in  the  theft  of  the  fox,  allowed 
the  animal  to  tear  away  his  flesh.  Her  husband  was  a 
topic  she  never  allowed  a  servant  to  discuss  with  her. 
When  any  reference  had  to  be  made  to  his  failing  it 
was  always  spoken  of  as  an  illness ;  it  was  gall  and 
wormwood  enough  to  her  sensitive  nature  that  any  one 
should  share  her  secret.  During  the  long  years  that  he 
had  succumbed  to  the  drug,  she  had  waited,  longingly 
at  first,  then  defiantly,  for  his  confidence.  Had  he 
given  it  to  her  she  would  never  have  reproached  him ; 
but  as  the  years  went  by  and  that  confidence  never 
came,  she  could  not  bring  herself  to  seek  it,  and  week 
after  week  the  sham  went  on,  she  never  showing  him 
by  word  or  look  that  she  knew.  So  he  had  passed  out 
of  her  life  as  completely  as  though  he  had  never  entered 
it — and  she  had  adored  him!  Had  she  ceased  to 
love  him?  If  she  had,  she  never  would  have  acknowl 
edged  it,  even  to  herself.  She  voluntarily  estranged  her 
friends  and  withdrew  from  her  relatives.  Only  once 
had  she  had  a  visitor,  a  schoolgirl  chum  who  announced 
her  arrival  in  person.  On  that  occasion,  and  then  only, 
Emily  Gaunt  had  sought  out  her  husband  and,  looking 
him  firmly  in  the  face,  had  requested  that  he  would  leave 
Windrift  for  a  week,  and  he  had  gone.  That  was  the 
one  thought  that  constantly  rose  up  before  her  —  the 
dread  of  discovery :  that  the  world,  most  of  all  that 
her  son,  should  come  to  know. 

As  she  lay  there,  staring  at  the  ceiling  with  fixed 
wide  eyes,  an  expression  of  deep  sorrow  touched  her 


3o  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

face,  perhaps  at  the  thought  of  the  inevitable  day  when 
John  must  learn  the  truth.  Perhaps  she  was  penetrat 
ing  even  further  into  the  future,  hoping,  praying,  fearing, 
for  the  man  who  must  fight  out  such  an  inheritance. 

From  its  shelter  behind  the  bed  the  candle  threw  its 
wavering  flicker  across  the  portrait  on  the  wall,  so  that 
the  girl  seemed  to  come  and  go  out  of  the  past.  The 
woman  drew  her  hands  slowly  across  her  eyes  —  then 
bent  her  head  toward  the  picture. 

Who  is  there  —  hardened  though  he  be  by  the  push 
and  the  scramble  of  life,  embittered  by  failure,  or 
schooled  to  stoicism  by  unconfessing  pride  —  that  can 
look  unmoved,  when  suddenly  confronted  with  the  pic 
ture  of  an  earlier  self,  and  meet  without  wonder  the 
childish  eyes,  the  frank,  the  innocent  —  the  eyes  that 
tell  what  might  have  been  ? 

She  was  proud,  and  proud  in  her  pride,  and  no  one 
had  ever  seen  in  her  look  an  expression  of  rebellion,  or 
heard  in  her  voice  the  break  of  suffering ;  yet,  as  she 
turned  to  look  into  the  face  of  her  youth,  the  warm 
tears  slipped  into  her  eyes  and  clouded  their  vision. 
She  would  not  recall  them,  for  they  were  inexpress 
ibly  sweet.  The  portrait  called  her.  The  room  was 
transformed,  the  feeble  light  grew  radiant,  the  walls 
shifted  into  long  vistas  of  forest  and  water.  She  was 
once  again  galloping  through  the  fields  of  her  youth, 
roaming  with  her  dogs  along  cone-strewn  alleys,  now 
under  familiar  boughs  weaving  her  garlands,  or  search 
ing  dreamily  through  the  vaulted  blue. 

So  far  astray  in  dreams  was  she  that  without  con 
sciousness  she  heard  below  the  stamp  and  neigh  of 
horses,  and  the  rumbling  laugh  of  Captain  Brace  bid 
ding  the  players  good-night.  Thrice  Aunt  Liza  had 
drummed  with  anxious  fingers  on  the  door  before  she 


ARROWS   OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  31 

realized  that  the  slave  was  back  in  the  room.  Then  almost 
a  cry  escaped  her.  She  sprang  up,  touched  her  cheek, 
ran  to  the  wash  stand  and  wet  her  eyes.  Three  fresh 
candles  stood  on  the  mantel.  She  lighted  them,  so  that 
the  room  grew  suddenly  bright.  Then,  moving  to  the 
window,  she  turned  her  back  and  waited. 

She  heard  a  voice  on  the  stairs  cry,  "  The  devil's  luck, 

Harry,  a of  a  night  for  you.  None  of  us  could 

have  stood  against  such  cursed  runs."  Then  the  door 
clicked  twice,  and  her  husband  stood  in  the  room.  The 
effort  at  self-control  had  told  heavily  on  him.  His  hand 
trembled,  and  his  eyes  glowed  with  the  brilliancy  she 
knew  too  well. 

Seeing  her,  he  stopped  in  confusion.  His  eye  fell  on 
the  disordered  bed.  "  You  —  you — up  again  ? "  he  said, 
averting  his  glance. 

"  Yes,  I  have  been  waiting,"  she  answered  quickly, 
disdaining  an  excuse ;  "  I  shall  always  wait  for  you." 

"  I  lost —  the  luck  was  against  me." 

"  It  is  all  yours  to  lose." 

He  went  to  the  bed  and  dropped  on  it,  his  hands  on 
his  knees,  his  body  bent. 

"Gamage  is  dead,"  he  said,  mumbling  to  himself  — 
"  the  heretic  —  the  atheist  —  the  infidel." 

"  I  know  it." 

"  Died  in  fear."  A  shudder  ran  through  him.  "  A 
coward  —  a  shrieking  coward  — why  the  devil  did  Magog 
tell  us  that?  Ugh!  wish  to  heaven  I'd  shut  my 
ears." 

His  head  began  to  nod.  She  moved  quickly  to  him, 
laid  her  fingers  on  his  shoulder,  and  said,  "  Come,  you 
must  get  to  bed." 

He  rose  —  he  always  obeyed  her  —  the  great  spare 
man  looking  down  at  the  slim  woman  —  and  began  to 


3«  ARROWS  OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

fumble  with  his  coat,  until  he  collapsed  stupidly  on  the 
bed,  insensible. 

She  drew  off  his  clothes  quietly,  doing  the  work  she 
would  not  call  in  her  slaves  to  do,  put  him  into  the  bed, 
and  sat  down  calmly,  to  wait  wearily  the  bursting  of  the 
storm. 

A  half-hour  passed  before  he  began  to  talk.  Then 
suddenly  remorse  swept  over  him ;  he  began  to  call  upon 
her  for  forgiveness  and  pity,  to  reproach  himself,  to 
curse  the  day  he  was  born,  to  sob,  to  choke,  to  cry  for 
mercy.  Through  all  the  torrent  of  his  anguish  she 
sat  unflinching  and  unmoved.  Once  when  his  voice 
mounted  to  a  shriek  her  heart  almost  stopped ;  she  put 
her  hand  suddenly  to  her  breast,  and  rose  and  closed 
the  forgotten  window. 

At  the  sound  of  the  grating  he  stopped  a  moment, 
and  cried,  "  Emily  !  Emily  ! "  She  went  to  his  side 
and  let  him  clutch  her  arm,  as  she  had  done  so  often. 
Then  suddenly  broke  over  him  the  horror  that  ruled  his 
life,  the  horror  of  death,  the  silent,  dogged  spectre  ever 
at  his  shoulder,  a  fear  that  only  in  these  fierce,  uncon 
scious  bursts  of  passion  tore  through  the  mask  of  his 
habitual  stoicism.  "  Emily  !  Emily !  "  he  called  out, 
as  though  she  were  not  at  his  side.  He  appealed  to 
her  to  save  him,  to  ward  off  the  dreadful  foe,  to  drive 
it  away,  to  save  him,  to  save  him,  to  save  him  !  The 
spirit  of  the  atheist  rose  up  before  him.  He  shrank 
away  to  the  farthest  corner  of  the  bed,  his  eyes  dilating 
with  fear.  He  clung  to  her  arm,  as  though  the  phantom 
that  haunted  him  were  dragging  him  the  other  way. 
His  fingers  dug  deep  into  the  soft  arm  among  many 
such  marks.  Again  and  again  she  trembled  as  his 
voice  rose,  sick  herself  at  the  fearful  intensity  of  the  pas 
sion  that  shook  his  limbs.  Another  interval,  and  the 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  33 

spell  began  to  break.  His  appeals  grew  less  and  less 
distinct,  and  the  fingers  more  numb,  until  his  head 
fell  heavily  on  the  pillow.  Just  then,  as,  bruised  and 
faint,  she  left  him,  and,  drawing  her  sleeve  over  the 
scars  of  the  night,  was  turning  from  the  bed,  her  eyes 
went  up  with  the  quickness  of  instinctive  dread.  The 
door  had  swung  open.  There,  before  her,  pale  and 
trembling,  leaning  heavily  against  the  frame  of  the  door, 
stood  John. 

Her  breath  seemed  to  stop  and  she  caught  at  the  bed 
for  support.  Even  then  she  did  not  lose  her  presence 
of  mind  —  he  might  only  have  just  come.  Summoning 
all  her  strength,  she  placed  a  finger  on  her  lip  and 
whispered,  "  Hush !  your  father  is  very  ill,"  and 
motioned  him  away.  Then,  panting,  sobbing,  she  threw 
herself  on  her  knees.  It  was  her  first  prayer  in  seven 
years. 


CHAPTER  V 

IN  a  whirlwind  of  emotion  John  rushed  to  his  room. 
He  had  heard  all.  He  had  roamed  through  the  misty 
fields,  unconscious  of  time,  revelling  in  the  unfold 
ing  mystery  of  nature,  without  seeking  after  questions 
and  answers  —  until  with  a  start  he  had  realized  how 
late  was  the  hour.  He  had  returned  slowly,  his  soul 
stirred,  reverent,  awed,  aflame.  Swinging  in  at  a  side 
window,  he  had  crept  softly  along  the  creaking  stairs. 
At  the  top  a  lighted  crack  had  stopped  him,  and  he 
had  paused  curiously,  hearing  a  voice  in  agony  —  his 
father's  voice,  but  changed  from  what  he  knew.  He 
stopped,  advanced,  stopped,  and  listened.  Then,  as  the 
full  import  of  the  revelation  dawned  upon  him,  he  began 
to  tremble  and  sway,  until  at  last  he  had  lurched  against 
the  yielding  door. 

Suddenly  the  great  emotions  of  the  night  were  swept 
away  —  what  phantoms  and  delusions  they  were  !  This 
then  was  the  true  answer  —  pitiless,  inexorable  death  — 
a  spectre  dogging  every  footstep,  a  horror  ending  in  noth 
ingness.  He  fled  to  his  room,  not  noticing  that  Captain 
Brace's  door  was  ajar,  or  that  that  gentleman's  head 
immediately  peered  into  the  hall.  He  closed  the  door 
and  locked  it,  as  though  he  could  thus  shut  out  the  words 
that  rang  in  his  ears.  He  threw  off  his  clothes,  groping 
beside  the  bed,  and  slipped  under  the  covers,  telling  him 
self  that  he  would  go  straight  to  sleep.  He  was  obey 
ing  an  instinct  to  shun  a  burden  that  he  felt  was  too  great 

34 


35 

for  his  young  understanding.  He  would  forget  all  he 
had  heard,  above  everything  he  must  not  think.  So, 
drawing  the  covers  over  his  head,  and  taking  long 
sleepy  breaths,  he  began  to  count  imaginary  flocks 
of  sheep  jumping  through  a  gap  in  a  fence  —  a  charm 
that  Liza  had  assured  him  could  not  fail. 

Suddenly  he  sat  bolt  upright,  wide-awake.  The  still 
ness  was  frightful.  He  could  hear  the  old  clock  in  the 
hall  below,  ticking  away  the  lagging  seconds.  Something 
had  creaked  in  the  room.  He  listened.  Again  !  Some 
thing  was  there  in  the  darkness  with  him.  His  heart 
began  to  knock  against  his  breast  as  though  it  would 
leap  from  its  place. 

"  Nonsense,"  he  cried  to  himself,  "  there  is  no  one 
here  —  I  won't  be  a  coward." 

For  the  moment  he  hesitated  —  and  perhaps  on  the 
decision  of  the  boy  hung  all  the  character  of  the  man. 
Then,  setting  his  teeth,  he  sprang  to  the  floor  and  made 
himself  crawl  under  the  bed,  until  every  corner  had  been 
explored.  He  returned  under  the  covers  in  triumph. 
For  the  time  the  excitement  of  subduing  himself  had 
made  him  forget.  Then  all  at  once  something  whispered 
in  his  ear :  "  I  am  here.  Come  —  you  must  think !  " 

Unable  longer  to  search  the  whispering  darkness,  he 
leaped  again  to  the  floor  and  lighted  the  candle,  half 
expecting  to  find  the  room  filled  with  grotesque  shapes. 
The  window  was  still  open.  He  passed  restlessly  out  on 
the  gallery,  still  clinging  to  the  protection  of  his  candle. 
Now  that  the  moon  had  left  the  sky  to  the  stars,  the 
earth  was  swallowed  up  in  dusk.  He  looked  down, 
wondering  if  he  could  really  be  the  same  child  that 
had  stood  there  but  a  little  while  ago.  These  sombre 
stretches,  these  black-browed  woods,  this  sullen  glimpse 
of  water  through  the  mist,  —  could  this  be  the  glowing 


36  ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

world  through  which  he  had  roamed  so  lately?  He 
looked  once  more  —  he  could  not  have  gone  again ! 
A  great  star  caught  his  eye.  But  now  it  impressed  him 
no  longer  with  the  sense  of  its  grandeur  and  its  immor 
tality,  but  with  a  sense  of  his  own  impotence.  His  life 
seemed  to  dwindle  —  such  a  little  hour  under  the  domain 
of  these  gaping  immensities  ! 

He  retreated  hurriedly,  shut  the  window,  set  the 
candle  again  on  the  table,  returned  with  a  quick  motion, 
drew  the  curtains  tight,  unlocked  the  door,  went  back 
to  bed,  sat  up,  clasped  his  hands  over  his  knees,  and, 
giving  up  the  struggle,  began  to  think. 

The  next  morning  Aunt  Liza,  tiptoeing  into  the 
room,  found  him  fast  asleep  in  the  middle  of  the  bed, 
where  he  had  fallen  on  his  side,  the  pillows  untouched. 
The  flame  was  flickering  in  the  socket  as  she  snuffed  it, 
cleared  the  windows,  and  stole  away  with  the  tell-tale 
candlestick  that  Miss  Emily  might  not  guess. 

With  a  start  John  awoke.  The  morning  glowed 
before  him.  The  cool  breeze  rustling  past  the  stirring 
curtains  invited  him  to  a  long  gallop  or  a  splash  in  the 
winding  river.  He  bounded  up  full  of  zest,  and  on  the 
minute  up  started  the  memories  of  the  night.  His  hand 
stopped  in  the  midst  of  a  gesture,  and  a  cry  escaped 
him.  "  Oh,  if  I  could  only  forget !  " 

He  started  at  the  sound  of  his  voice,  and  there  rose 
before  his  eyes  the  startled  face  of  his  mother. 

"  It  would  break  her  heart  if  she  knew,"  he  said  to 
himself,  growing  instinctively  wise,  a  child  no  longer, 
"  and  she  shall  not." 

He  shut  his  lips,  and  began  to  dress.  But  despite 
his  will,  again  and  again  he  fell  into  profound  revery, 
standing  like  an  image  of  stone,  and  again  and  again  he 


ARROWS   OF   THE   ALMIGHTY  37 

roused  himself  with  determined  shakes  of  his  head, 
until  at  length  down  the  stairs  he  went,  whistling  for 
spirits,  and  into  the  dining  room,  with  a  sigh  of  relief  to 
find  no  one  there. 

Captain  Brace  had  breakfasted,  and  was  off.  The 
others  were  not  yet  down.  He  ate  his  meal  hurriedly, 
trembling  at  every  foot-fall.  At  the  steps  stood  his 
servant  Jonah,  with  the  ponies.  On  the  spur  of  a  wild 
desire  to  gallop  mile  on  mile,  he  vaulted  into  the  saddle, 
ordering  the  wondering  negro  to  remain.  Thwack, 
thwack  !  fell  the  whip  upon  the  flanks  of  the  astonished 
Puff.  Bolt  sprang  the  indignant  pony  through  the 
gate  and  down  the  avenue.  Behind  fled  fence,  and 
tree,  and  fields  gay  with  cattle.  But,  fast  as  they  sped, 
fast  and  faster  came  that  other,  Atra  Cura,  and  fast  or 
slow,  turn  where  he  might,  by  flat  highway  or  stooping 
bridle-path,  there  was  no  escaping  that  unbidden  com 
panion. 

"  If  I  had  only  gone  to  bed,"  once  he  cried  to  him 
self,  if  only  to  break  the  intense  monotony  of  thought, 
"it  would  all  be  different.  Oh,  it  can't  be  true;  every 
thing  can't  be  so  changed  in  a  day." 

He  looked  down.  The  reins  had  fallen  from  his 
hand  and  Puff  was  contentedly  browsing,  when  Lufkin, 
landlord  of  the  Bull's  Eye,  happening  to  pass  at  this 
moment,  startled  him  from  his  revery  with  a  hearty 
greeting. 

"  John,  John,  you're  too  young  to  be  in  love,  or  to 
forget  an  old  friend." 

John  started  up,  flinging  back  so  unceremonious  an 
answer  that  his  friend  stared  after  him  in  amazement. 
Thwack,  thwack  !  down  came  the  whip,  and  away  fled 
Puff,  now  out  of  the  highway,  cutting  across  the  pas 
tures  and  skirting  the  woods.  When  at  length  John 


38  ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

looked  up  Puff  had  halted  on  the  edge  of  a  graveyard, 
with  six  gray  crosses  in  a  line,  six  generations  of  masters 
below  —  it  was  the  burial-ground  of  the  Troutmans. 
He  sat  there,  staring  stupidly  down  on  the  family  vaults 
and  the  cracked  slabs  overgrown  with  green,  hardly 
moving  in  his  saddle.  Then  a  quick  swish  of  Puff's 
tail  brought  him  sharply  back  to  himself,  and,  turning 
the  bridle,  he  rode  slowly  home,  the  whip  dangling 
idly  in  his  hand. 

The  slim,  familiar  figure  of  his  mother  was  waiting 
among  the  rose  bushes  as  he  came  up  the  avenue.  All 
his  resolves  returned  to  him.  He  cantered  up,  swing 
ing  his  cap  and  nodding  gayly  in  answer  to  her  anxious 
smiles. 

Dinner,  always  a  gloomy  meal,  was  passed  in  silence. 
John  stared  with  intense  fascination  at  the  black  circles 
under  his  father's  eyes  —  eyes  that  hardly  ever  wan 
dered  from  the  cloth ;  and  the  mother,  also  silent, 
scanned  the  boy's  face  with  questioning  looks.  Captain 
Brace,  catching  the  infection,  studied  the  portrait  op 
posite —  a  Sir  Joshua  —  of  Viscount  Orkney  in  red  coat 
and  periwig,  frowning  imposingly  among  a  gallery  of 
scenes  from  Shakespeare,  famous  Boydell  engravings, 
that  enlivened  every  wall.  For  the  rest,  he  seemed  to 
be  intent  on  his  dinner,  making  his  requests  with  the 
greatest  deference  to  Madame  Gaunt,  who  never  by 
word  or  look  addressed  him  an  answer. 

Somehow  the  day  came  to  an  end  —  often  afterwards 
John  looked  back  and  wondered  how  it  ever  passed  — 
and  again  he  lay  in  his  bed.  Presently  there  came  a 
light  tapping  at  the  door,  and  his  mother  entered  and 
took  a  seat  at  his  side,  and,  as  was  her  custom,  brought 
out  the  harp  that  always  stood  in  the  corner.  She 
thumbed  the  strings  a  moment  idly>  and  then  sang 


ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY  39 

for  him  ballads  of  her  girlhood  —  "  The  Knight  of  the 
Raven  Black  Plume,"  "  My  Bark  is  on  the  Billow," 
and  "Lady  Mine." 

It  was  a  picture  the  man  never  forgot,  —  the 
hickories  snapping  on  the  hearth,  the  big  tester  bed,  the 
gilded  harp,  the  graceful  arms,  the  wistful  face  glancing 
back,  the  rich,  low  voice  that  sang  his  eyes  to  sleep. 

The  window  was  open,  the  strings  still  murmuring 
with  the  melody  as  she  bent  over  him  and  laid  her  hand 
against  his  forehead. 

"  Why  were  you  at  my  door  last  night,  Johnnie-boy  ? " 
she  asked,  using  the  old  pet  name. 

"Oh,  mother,"  he  began — she  must  have  heard 
the  beating  of  his  heart !  —  "I  was  out  in  the  garden ; 
it  was  so  beautiful  last  night.  I  came  up  the  stairs 
and  saw  a  light  in  your  room.  I  —  I  —  wanted  to 
tell  you  how  wonderful  it  all  was  —  I  had  just  come." 

"Just  come?" 

He  moved  sleepily,  evading  the  answer. 

"  Just  come,  dear  ? " 

"  Yes."  The  shadows  were  on  the  room ;  she  could 
not  see  his  face. 

"You  are  my  son,"  she  said  softly,  drawing  back, 
"you  love  the  sky  and  the  fields,  don't  you?" 

"  Yes." 

She  touched  the  strings  again  and  sang  a  lullaby, 
the  same  with  which  she  had  often  charmed  him  to 
sleep  as  she  watched  beside  his  cradle.  The  soft 
melody  filled  the  room  with  languorous  invitation. 
Lower  and  lower  drooped  his  eyelids,  until  at  length 
she  heard  a  drowsy,  deep-taken  breath. 

"  He  did  not  hear,"  she  whispered,  her  breast  rising. 
"  He  does  not  know." 

She  bent  down,  kissing  his  forehead  so  lightly  that  he 


40  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

did  not  stir.  She  had  come  prepared  to  help  him,  her 
mother's  love  ready  to  show  the  groping  child  all  the 
unconquerable  beauty  of  life  as  she  could  see  it ;  she 
went  away  with  a  prayer  of  thanksgiving  on  her  lips 
and  with  hope  in  her  eyes.  It  was  one  of  those  little 
misunderstandings  from  which  grow  the  great  tragedies. 


CHAPTER    VI 

IN  all  Maryland,  from  Crisfield  to  Elkton,  there  was 
no  such  garden  as  that  of  Madame  Gaunt's  at  Windrift 
in  the  year  1846.  From  the  rear  veranda  it  opened 
fan-shaped  into  a  labyrinth  of  box-edged  paths.  One 
strayed  among  trellised  lanes,  where,  blossoming  each 
in  its  season,  the  crepe  myrtle,  the  white  magnolia,  and 
the  Chinese  honeysuckle  blended  overhead ;  narrow 
alleys  of  syringas,  sweet  shrub,  snowball,  and  pome 
granate  opened  out  at  times  into  circular  bowers  of 
wistaria  or  nine-fingered  holly,  leading  on  to  benches 
beside  quince  trees,  filbert,  or  fig.  In  front  were  beds  of 
perfume-giving  hyacinths,  rural  hollyhocks,  pale  bounc 
ing  betty,  early  crocus,  and  flowering  pea,  the  bright 
button  pink,  the  little  red-brown  chrysanthemum,  and, 
spreading  everywhere,  the  violet. 

Down  the  middle  to  the  shining  greenhouse,  cutting 
the  garden  into  two  wings,  lay  a  broad  reach  of  green 
sward,  across  which  the  gray  squirrels  from  the  syca 
mores  scampered  in  the  early  morning,  the  redbird 
showed  its  flaming  sides  and  the  mocking-bird  darted  to 
its  song.  On  one  side,  below  clusters  of  the  Black 
Hamburg  and  the  Sweetwater,  where  the  vines  hung 
low  and  the  Seven  Sisters  rose  bushes  narrowed  the  way, 
ran  Lovers'  Lane,  luring  to  hidden  bowers  and  sudden 
nooks. 

Shutting  out  all  this  loveliness  from  the  farther  world 
was  a  high  brick  wall,  enclosing  the  garden  in  a  semi- 

41 


42  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

circle.  Just  beyond,  through  a  narrow  arch  to  the  left 
of  the  greenhouses,  under  huddling  cedars,  was  the 
family  graveyard,  the  monuments  weather-stained  and 
the  dim  mounds  overrun  with  violets  and  ground  myrtle. 
Across  the  western  wing,  leading  to  the  arch,  was  a  lane 
closed  at  either  end  by  high  Gothic  gates,  that,  in  the 
traditions  of  Belle  River,  opened  only  to  receive  a 
funeral  procession  into  its  shaded  depths,  a  lane  for 
generations  known  as  Via  Dolorosa. 

Twenty  negroes  moved  incessantly  through  the  garden 
by  day,  clipping  the  box  borders,  restraining  the  hedges, 
pruning  and  raking,  and  fighting  the  chickweed  in  the 
sward.  Here  John's  mother  passed  her  days  —  in  the 
mornings  hearing  his  lessons  under  the  bowers  of 
Lovers'  Lane,  in  the  afternoons  straying  among  a 
hundred  varieties  of  roses,  lingering  over  her  favorites, 
the  variegated  York  and  Lancaster,  the  Painted  Ladies 
and  the  rare  Prince  Albert  and  Queen  Victoria,  a  red 
and  a  white  flower  on  the  same  stalk,  which  Paton,  the 
great  florist  of  Baltimore,  had  once  come  especially  to 
see. 

Emily  Gaunt  was  never  so  happy  as  at  these  moments, 
when,  in  the  calm  of  her  paradise,  something  of  the 
warmth  of  the  roses  entering  her  soul,  she  would  go 
her  way  pruning  and  clipping,  with  a  song  on  her  lips. 
When  the  sun  began  to  swell  on  the  horizon,  she  strayed 
toward  the  house  to  seek  through  the  double  rows  of 
beech  and  maple  until  John  cantered  up  the  avenue  on 
Puff,  swinging  his  cap,  the  glow  of  a  long  scamper 
burning  on  his  cheeks. 

Meanwhile  the  master  of  the  house  would  be  impa 
tiently  measuring  the  front  terrace.  Under  the  four 
great  Lombardy  poplars,  sentinels  of  the  house,  and 
landmarks  of  all  the  country  side,  he  would  pace,  halt- 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  43 

ing  every  little  while  to  sweep  the  avenue  for  the  arrival 
of  Captain  Brace,  who  usually  galloped  in  at  half-past 
three  from  a  neighborly  call,  or  twice  a  week,  on  public 
days,  from  Bromfield,  where  he  went  to  discuss  Clay 
and  the  Missouri  Compromise  with  the  gentry  who  gath 
ered  at  the  Bull's  Eye  Tavern. 

It  was  seldom  that  Harry  Gaunt  ever  happened  upon 
the  rear  veranda,  and  in  all  his  aimless  walks  he  did  not 
once  trespass  into  the  garden,  where  some  chance  turn 
might  bring  him  face  to  face  with  the  arch  yawning 
under  the  high  brick  wall,  and  the  gleam  of  marble 
beyond.  But  evade  as  he  might  this  memento  mori,  he 
never  peered  through  the  parlor  windows,  that  beyond 
all  the  bright  splash  of  the  flower-beds  he  did  not  see 
the  silent  cedars,  lifting  above  the  wall,  and  know  that 
some  day  for  him  the  gates  would  stand  open  down 
the  Via  Dolorosa.  Shunning  all  this,  away  across  the 
country  he  would  gallop  with  the  speed  of  an  evil  wind, 
constantly  urging  the  frantic  Two  Spot  on  and  on,  never 
satisfied,  however  sharp  cut  the  wind  across  his  face. 
At  other  times,  unslinging  a  rifle  from  the  wall,  he  would 
wander  through  the  woods.  But  through  it  all  he  was 
restless  and  fidgeting  until  half-past  three  arrived,  and 
Ned,  and  the  cards. 

In  at  last  came  Captain  Brace,  stamping  through  the 
hall,  to  smack  his  lips  over  a  tumbler  of  brandy  and 
water,  and  cry :  "  No  cards  to-day,  Harry,  that's  final. 
Gad,  I'm  sick  to  death  of  their  color.  Has  there  been 
an  afternoon  or  evening  since  I  came  that  you  haven't 
begged  me  —  forced  —  yes,  forced  me  into  playing  — 
has  there,  now  ? " 

"  And  I  hope  there  never  will  be,"  said  Gaunt,  look 
ing  up  so  frankly  over  the  cards  he  was  fingering  that 
Brace  exploded  at  once  into  a  fit  of  laughter. 


44  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

"Damme,  Harry,  you're  incorrigible.  There,  there, 
just  to  please  you,  then.  Tell  me,  is  there  anything 
else  in  life  to  you  ? " 

"  What  else  is  there  ? "  cried  Gaunt,  moodily  bending 
over  the  table. 

Captain  Brace  lifted  his  shoulders,  not  caring  to 
return  an  answer. 

"  Search  at  the  bottom  of  everything,  what  is  there 
but  a  gamble  ? "  continued  the  other,  unbosoming  him 
self,  much  to  the  surprise  of  his  companion.  "  Success, 
happiness,  fame,  virtue,  —  yes,  virtue  most  of  all,  —  it's 
all  a  gamble,  I  say.  I  like  it,  it  fascinates  me.  I'm  a 
doubter,  Ned.  My  father  was  before  me.  I  doubt  the 
future,  I  doubt  everything.  Lord,  sometimes  I  doubt 
my  doubts.  Don't  you  see  ?  The  same  hand  that 
throws  the  cards,  Ned,  has  made  me  what  I  am,  and 
you,  yes,  and  will  make  us  what  we  must  become  — 
and  that's  what  I  see  in  the  cards." 

"You  go  too  deep,"  replied  Captain  Brace,  with  a 
blank  look.  "  I  can't  follow  you.  I  reckon  you're 
right,  though ;  you  generally  are.  Gad,  Harry,  I  say 
it's  the  chances  that  make  life  interesting." 

As  a  rule  these  parties  were  fairly  even ;  Captain 
Brace  seldom  won,  but  neither  did  he  lose  much.  Back 
to  their  game  they  hastened  as  soon  as  supper  was 
ended,  unless  Squire  Troutman  and  the  doctor  or 
sometimes  Colonel  Spott  dropped  in,  when  the  pastime 
was  made  general.  After  one  such  night  (and  they 
gradually  had  become  very  frequent),  Colonel  Spott  in 
dulged  in  such  language  that  Doctor  Magog,  who  was 
driving  him  home,  though  he  knew  the  gentleman's 
talent  for  profanity,  was  astounded. 

"  Come  now,  Colonel,  come,"  he  remonstrated,  attrib 
uting  his  companion's  humor  to  the  cards,  "  certainly  the 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  45 

luck  was  against  you,  but  you've  no  cause  to  complain ; 
you're  —  " 

"  Damn  the  luck,"  burst  out  the  colonel,  "  do  you 
think  I  care  a  dashed  dash  about  any  dashed  money  ? 
It's  not  that,  no !  it's  that  fellow  behind.  What  in  the 
dash,  dash  devilment  is  he  up  to  there,  I'd  like  to 
know  ? " 

"  Hands  off,  hands  off,  I  say,  when  a  man's  down. 
Colonel,  it  isn't  like  you  to  be  hitting  at  your  host 
when  —  " 

"  No,  no,  not  Gaunt,  not  that  poor  devil.  Why  do  you 
keep  misunderstanding  me  ?  I  mean  that  rascal  of  a 
Captain  Brace,"  the  colonel  cried  in  an  avalanche  of 
oaths,  "the  smoothest,  glibbest  sharper  I  ever  saw." 

"  Eh,  what !  Good  heavens,  Colonel !  Do  you  know 
what  you're  saying  ?  Ned  Brace  ? " 

"  What  do  you  know  about  Captain  Brace  ? "  the 
colonel  cried,  wheeling  toward  him.  "  You  know 
nothing.  You  know  this  poor  devil  behind  us  picked 
him  up  eighteen  months  ago  at  the  Bull's  Eye,  where 
he'd  been,  off  and  on,  for  two  years,  where  he  paid  his 
board  by  sharping  the  young  fellows  over  the  cards." 

"  Sharping  ? " 

"Yes,  sharping.  You  needn't  look  at  me  that  way, 
Tom.  By  ,  Lufkin  told  me  so." 

"  Lufkin !  "  cried  the  doctor,  with  a  sneer.  "  Do  you 
go  on  his  word  against  a  gentleman  ?  Besides,  if  he's 
what  you  say,  why  hasn't  Brace  tried  his  tricks  by  this 
time  ?  See  here,  Colonel,  Ned's  been  eighteen  months 
at  Harry's,  and  there's  not  twenty  dollars'  difference 
between  them  to-day.  What  do  you  say  to  that  ? " 

The  colonel  emitted  a  short,  barking  laugh,  and  said 
point  blank,  grasping  the  shoulder  of  his  companion, 
"  Doctor,  how  long  do  you  give  a  woman  to  live  whose 


46  ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

heart's  been  breaking  for  ten  years  ?  and  what  will  you 
give  a  man  who's  drinking  himself  to  the  grave  as  fast 
as  a  horse  can  trot?  Tell  me  that.  Do  you  see  the 
situation?  And  add  an  adventurer  worming  himself 
into  the  poor  devil's  confidence.  Ever  hear  of  such 
a  case  before  ? " 

"Oh,  come  now,  Colonel,  you're  blundering  fright 
fully.  Ned  Brace  is  one  of  the  kindest  fellows  alive. 
Come,  come,  the  whole  country  likes  him." 

"  Damn  the  country  —  curse  the  country !  I  know 
my  man  —  it's  big  game  he  wants.  He's  an  infernal 
thoroughgoing,  smooth-faced  rascal.  Mark  my  words, 
one  of  these  patient  scoundrels  who'll  wait  his  chance  for 
years  —  I  know  them  !  I  tell  you  I  suspected  him  the 
moment  I  heard  him  swear.  He  doesn't  swear  right," 
added  the  colonel,  who  was  a  judge.  "  It  don't  come 
natural,  he  puts  it  on,  I  tell  you,  the  dashed  hypocrite !  " 

"Captain  Brace,  sir,  is  my  friend,"  the  doctor  said 
stiffly,  now  thoroughly  indignant.  "  I'll  thank  you  to 
drop  the  conversation." 

"  Confound  these  military  men,"  he  thought  to  him 
self,  "no  one  is  safe  from  their  suspicions."  And  the 
next  day,  being  summoned  to  Windrift,  he  bore  the  whole 
of  the  conversation  to  the  captain,  who  gave  a  rather 
loud  guffaw,  and  swore  it  was  the  joke  of  the  season. 

"You're  too  good-natured,  Ned;  you'd  be  justified  in 
doing  something  different." 

"  Pooh ! "  said  Brace,  lifting  his  thick  shoulders, 
"  people  must  gossip,  Tom  ;  I  can  stand  it." 

Thereafter,  whenever  the  colonel  passed,  scowling  and 
very  curt,  Brace  never  failed  to  break  into  a  smile  and 
to  bow  to  his  horse's  mane,  though  careful  never  to 
give  that  warrior  any  cause  to  believe  that  he  intended 
to  call  him  out. 


ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY  47 

The  county  drawing-rooms,  which  at  the  start  had 
taken  up  furiously  the  introduction  of  Captain  Brace 
into  the  Gaunt  household,  and,  discovering  him  to  be 
without  an  available  past,  had  delighted  in  furnishing 
him  with  several  sets  of  most  unflattering  antecedents, 
gradually  influenced  by  his  affability  and  good  nature, 
had  come  to  admit  that  they  had  judged  too  hastily. 
Within  six  months,  the  captain,  who  had  left  the  Bull's 
Eye  at  Bromfield  with  the  reputation  of  being  morose, 
taciturn,  shoddy,  and  a  little  too  keen  on  the  sharp  end 
of  a  bargain,  became  the  familiar  of  almost  every  estate 
around,  and  was  pronounced  a  good  fellow  and  a  man 
of  the  kindest  feelings. 

It  presently  became  apparent  that,  instead  of  Captain 
Brace  depending  on  the  hospitality  of  the  Gaunts,  quite 
the  reverse  was  true.  >  Harry  Gaunt  could  no  more  do 
without  his  companion  than  the  earth  could  dispense 
with  rain.  He  took  instant  alarm  whenever  the  cap 
tain  announced  an  intention  to  depart;  some  said  that 
he  even  went  down  on  his  knees  before  him,  and  that 
it  was  only  on  the  private  solicitations  of  Emily  Gaunt 
herself  that  the  kind-hearted  captain  had  consented  to 
remain  from  month  to  month.  Brace  always  excused 
himself  gracefully  when  questioned  upon  such  reports, 
neither  affirming  nor  denying  them. 

Yet  in  respect  to  one  person  he  could  have  had  no 
illusions.  Besides  Colonel  Spott  and  the  landlord  of 
the  Bull's  Eye,  Emily  Gaunt  had  distrusted  him  from 
the  first,  and  had  watched  with  alarm  his  growing 
influence  over  her  husband.  Whenever  the  captain's 
roving  eyes  and  broken  nose  appeared,  her  manner 
became  very  haughty.  Had  he  been  her  slave  she 
could  not  have  treated  him  with  more  condescension. 

Captain  Brace,  who,  despite  rebuffs,  never  failed  to 


48  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

observe  toward  her  the  completest  courtesy,  especially 
in  the  presence  of  guests,  redoubled  his  attentions  the 
more  distant  became  her  reception  of  them.  One  day, 
in  pursuance  of  this  attitude,  he  even  ventured  to 
approach  her  as  she  was  wandering  among  her  beds 
directing  her  gardeners.  To  his  surprise  he  found  her 
unusually  gracious,  so  much  so  that  after  a  few  moments 
he  looked  up  frankly  into  her  face  and  said  abruptly, 
"  Mrs.  Gaunt,  you  don't  like  me,  do  you  ?  But  it  is 
because  you  misunderstand  me.  I  think  you  are  one 
of  the  noblest  women  alive,  and  I'm  going  to  tell 
you  that  I  pity  you,  yes,  from  the  bottom  of  my 
heart." 

She  wheeled  on  him  quickly,  a  fire  in  her  eyes,  and 
he  saw  that  he  had  been  caught  in  his  own  trap. 

"  What  is  it  you  want  ?  What  is  your  purpose  in  this 
house  ?  Don't  act  with  me,"  she  cried,  as  he  started 
back  under  the  confusion  of  the  attack.  "You  have 
never  deceived  me.  My  husband  is  in  your  power. 
If  it  is  money  you  want,  why  don't  you  win  it  from 
him  ?  You  have  waited  a  —  a  decent  time.  If  it  is  not 
that,  what  is  it  ?  "  Her  burst  of  anger  was  over ;  she 
stopped  and  finished  quietly.  "  Such  a  man  as  you  has 
known  many  women,  and  what  one  woman  will  do  — 
and  I  tell  you  "  (looking  straight  in  his  eyes)  "  that  if 
you  ever  dare  to  make  another  advance  to  me  —  I  shall 
know  how  to  defend  myself." 

"  Madam,"  replied  Captain  Brace,  drawing  himself  up, 
now  thoroughly  recovered,  "  a  gentleman  can't  answer 
such  accusations ;  permit  me  to  retire." 

"A  gentleman  !  "  She  stopped  him  as  he  bowed  and 
was  about  to  go.  "  Very  we.ll.  As  a  gentleman,  then, 
I  ask  you,  —  after  what  has  passed,  and  knowing  that 
your  presence  here  is  a  constant  annoyance  to  me,  —  will 


ARROWS  OF  THE   ALMIGHTY  49 

you,  as  a  gentleman,  leave  my  home  to-morrow  —  and 
forever  ? " 

The  captain  backed  and  stammered,  a  sorry  figure ; 
there  is  no  knowing  what  would  have  happened,  had 
not  a  gay  shout  ended  the  scene,  as  John  and  Puff 
came  up. 

Should  she  tell  her  husband  of  the  interview  and 
force  a  crisis  ?  This  was  actually  in  her  mind  —  indeed 
her  hand  was  even  on  the  knob.  Another  moment  and 
who  knows  what  old  barriers  might  not  have  been 
broken  down  and  out  of  a  truer  understanding  have 
come  a  happier  life  ?  But  even  as  she  stood  wavering 
before  the  door,  the  old  dominant  feeling  of  pride  re 
turned.  "  I  must  ask  ?  "  she  said,  moving  away,  "  never ! 
If  my  husband  cannot  see  that  that  fellow's  presence  is 
a  constant  insult  to  me,  I  shall  never  tell  him." 

Squire  Troutman,  Doctor  Magog,  and  Major  Llewel 
lyn,  rolling  in  for  supper  and  a  night  at  cards,  found 
the  captain  in  the  drawing-room  pacing  furiously  before 
the  fire.  All  the  doctor's  good  spirits  failed  to  draw  a 
smile  from  him  that  afternoon.  He  was  so  silent  and 
glum  that  all  three  vowed  instantly  he  was  in  love ; 
yes,  Captain  Ned  was  trapped  at  last !  But  even  that 
sally  fell  unnoticed  —  the  captain,  usually  the  soul  of 
the  party,  continued  distrait,  until  suddenly  Harry 
Gaunt  entering  the  room,  the  quick  eyes  went  up  like  a 
flash.  A  moment  later  he  broke  into  a  tremendous 
roar  over  a  bon  mot  of  the  major's.  He  clapped  the 
doctor  on  the  back ;  he  toasted  everybody ;  he  drank 
enormously.  At  the  cards  everything  was  with  him ; 
no  one  could  stand  against  him. 


CHAPTER  VII 

WHY  do  we  belittle  the  griefs  and  sorrows  of  child 
hood  ?  Are  they  not  as  deep  and  as  vivid  as  those  of 
later  years,  ay,  and  more  lasting?  Then  disappoint 
ments  and  heartaches  have  dulled  the  edge  of  grief. 
There  is  a  certain  capacity  to  suffer,  which,  once  being 
strained,  we  respond  to  the  ache  no  more.  It  is  the 
first  sharp  touch  of  the  surgeon's  knife  that  tries  the 
patient's  courage,  and  the  first  bite  of  the  flames 
against  which  the  martyr  steels  his  fortitude.  So  in 
childhood  it  is  the  first  knowledge  of  sorrow  that  over 
whelms,  for  it  is  a  grief  that  arrives  fresh  to  the  young 
ignorance  of  suffering,  and  with  the  sudden  shattering 
of  Utopia,  leaves  one  groping  for  new  ideals. 

So  it  was  with  John  in  his  first  great  grief.  He  felt 
alone,  estranged,  marked  out  from  all  the  rest  of  his 
fellow-creatures.  In  all  the  trials  of  later  years  he  was 
wont  to  refer  to  this  as  the  darkest  period  of  his  life, 
when  sorrow  seemed  irresistible.  To  most  at  such 
times  come  the  cry  for  solitude,  the  longing  for  freedom, 
the  desire  to  escape  from  life.  Not  so  with  John.  He 
wanted  to  flee  from  himself,  to  stop  thinking  these  ter 
rible  thoughts,  to  forget  these  unanswerable  questions. 
He  hungered  for  companions,  for  distractions  to  call  him 
out  of  himself.  He  was  his  own  unwelcome  companion, 
from  whom  he  was  forever  trying  to  escape  by  sudden 
rushes  or  silent  turnings. 

5° 


ARROWS   OF   THE   ALMIGHTY  51 

Often  in  his  rambles  on  Puff  he  would  gallop  over 
toward  Bromfield  to  the  schoolhouse,  and  from  the 
pony's  back  longingly  watch  the  boys  romping  at  their 
games.  On  three  successive  days  he  returned  so  thought 
ful  that  his  mother  at  length  noticed  the  change,  and 
asked  the  destination  of  his  rides. 

"  To  Bromfield,"  he  replied ;  and  then,  hesitating,  he 
added,  "  that  is,  to  the  schoolhouse." 

"Would  you  like  to  go  to  school,  dear,  very  much  ? " 
she  asked  mechanically.  She  looked  at  him  long,  and 
her  heart  bounded  as  he  shook  his  head  and  replied  :  — 

"  No,  mother,  unless  you  want  me  to." 

She  put  his  hair  back  from  his  forehead  and  said  :  — 

"  I  have  been  thinking  of  it,  Johnnie-boy,  for  a 
long  while." 

And  so  she  had.  Often  under  the  lilac  bush  in  Lover's 
Lane,  in  the  hours  when  he  sat  by  her  side,  snuggling 
under  her  arm,  as  she  read  to  him  his  history,  she  had 
thought  of  the  day  that  was  coming  when  she  must  sur 
render  him  to  other  teachers.  It  was  hard  to  let  him 
go.  She  had  hoped  to  keep  him  just  a  little  longer. 
People  saw  other  things  besides  the  past  in  her  face,  and 
Doctor  Magog,  though  he  had  pooh-poohed  Colonel 
Spott's  insinuations,  yet,  on  the  occasion  of  his  last  call, 
had  looked  her  steadily  in  the  face  and  said,  "  It  isn't 
your  husband,  madam,  who  needs  my  help  the  most." 
She  shook  her  head  —  no  doctor's  drug  could  cure  her 
malady. 

"Yes,  John,  I  have  been  thinking  of  it  for  a  long 
while,"  she  repeated,  with  forced  cheerfulness;  "you 
will  be  happier  among  companions  of  your  own  age — 
you  are  old  enough,  dear,  and  it  is  best.  Next  Monday 
I  will  have  your  father  take  you.  You  —  you  will  be 
very  happy,  won't  you  ?  " 


5 2  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

"  Oh,  mother,  can  I  really  go  ?  " 

He  sprang  up  with  a  boyish  caper,  all  eagerness  and 
delight  His  joy  brought  a  pang  to  her  mother's  heart  — 
a  pang  she  hid  under  a  smile.  She  stood  silent,  without 
a  motion,  as  he  ran  off  gleefully.  She  watched,  drawing 
long  breaths,  until  he  had  disappeared,  then  she  slowly 
passed  down  the  aisle  of  roses  to  her  garden-seat.  The 
Painted  Ladies  were  stirring  at  her  very  shoulder  as  she 
leaned  back  wearily,  looking  up  beyond  the  cedars,  until 
evening  crept  across  the  skies  and  the  dusk  blotted  out 
all  things  below. 

So  it  happened  that  one  Monday  morning,  as  the  Rev. 
Timothy  Grimshaw,  having  rapped  the  school  sharply 
to  order,  was  about  to  guide  the  youthful  minds  into  the 
realms  of  another  week's  learning,  he  saw  through  the 
open  window  a  pale  gentleman  of  indifferent  manner 
staring  about  inquiringly  from  the  back  of  a  coal-black 
mare,  and,  erect  on  a  midget  of  a  pony,  a  serious,  big- 
boned  youngster,  who  was  surveying  the  schoolhouse 
with  the  gravity  of  forty-five.  Mr.  Grimshaw,  divining 
the  import  of  the  visit,  at  once  suspended  his  labors, 
enjoined  on  the  room  the  strictest  attention  to  the  rule 
of  three,  on  displeasure  of  the  rod,  and  strode  down  the 
aisle  to  greet  the  master  of  Windrift. 

"  I  have  the  honor  of  welcoming  Mr.  Gaunt,  I  be 
lieve,"  he  began  ceremoniously,  fixing  John  with  deep 
eyes  that  seemed  to  ask  a  dozen  questions,  as  they 
gleamed  under  his  tangled  brows.  "This,  I  know,  is 
Master  John.  He,  at  least,  is  not  a  stranger  to  these 
parts.  Your  mother,  young  man,  is  your  welcome 
anywhere." 

"  The  Reverend  Timothy  Grimshaw  ? "  interposed  the 
gentleman,  who  had  paid  not  the  slightest  attention  to 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  53 

all  this  address.  "  My  son  John.  He  will  be  a  pupil  at 
your  school  from  this  day.  You  will  find  him,  I  reckon, 
well  up  for  his  age.  His  mother  has  taught  him.  Has 
a  high  spirit  for  a  lad.  Expect  to  see  you  some  day  at 
Windrift,  Grimshaw,  to  dinner.  I  don't  see  what  more 
there  is  to  say,  I'm  sure.  Good  day.  Don't  bother  the 
lad  on  religion,  that's  all."  He  nodded  abruptly,  and 
touching  his  spurs  to  the  mare's  flanks,  unceremoniously 
galloped  away. 

The  schoolmaster,  the  color  mounting  to  his  temples, 
turned  curtly  on  his  heel  and  signalled  to  John.  The 
boy  flung  himself  off  briskly,  threw  the  reins  over  Puff, 
who  wandered  contentedly  into  the  clover,  looked  up 
frankly  into  the  dark  eyes  that  were  studying  him,  and 
said,  "  Very  well,  sir,  I  am  ready." 

"  Follow  me,  then." 

He  wheeled  and  led  the  way  into  the  schoolroom, 
John  close  at  his  heels,  unabashed  before  the  gaze  of 
the  scholars.  The  boy's  self-possession  amused  the 
elder,  and  with  a  view  to  trying  him  further,  he  left  him 
standing  in  the  aisle,  purposely  affecting,  as  he  pro 
ceeded  to  his  desk,  to  have  forgotten  his  presence. 
But  if  he  had  expected  to  find  any  signs  of  timidity  or 
indecision,  he  was  mistaken.  John,  having  remained 
standing  for  what  he  considered  a  decent  interval,  cast 
his  eye  about  him,  took  possession  of  the  first  vacant 
seat,  and  began  an  examination  of  the  room  with  a 
curiosity  as  frank  as  that  which  had  greeted  his 
arrival. 

Three  sharp  raps  from  the  master's  desk,  and  a  sudden 
stillness  broke  upon  the  whispers  and  the  hum  of  the 
room.  John  looked  up.  Grimshaw  had  raised  the  desk 
and  produced  a  bundle  of  birches.  A  moment  he  examined 
them  nicely  with  thumb  and  finger,  then  he  stretched  up 


54  ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

to  his  full  six  feet  three  inches,  and  stalked  slowly 
forward  to  the  edge  of  the  platform. 

He  was  no  ordinary  man.  He  studied  his  pupils, 
searched  out  their  vulnerable  spots,  and  fitted  his  punish 
ments  accordingly.  They,  on  their  part,  firmly  believed 
him  to  be  possessed  of  superhuman  knowledge,  and  were 
convinced  that  not  a  single  act  of  their  lives  could 
escape  the  cavernous  eyes  that  searched  into  the  very 
corners  of  their  souls. 

"We  will  now  proceed  in  the  order  of  castigation." 

So  saying,  Grimshaw  drew  out  a  paper,  and  began  to 
read  in  a  loud  voice,  "  Record  of  the  week.  Commended 
for  diligence  and  application :  Troutman  and  Runcey. 
Tardy :  Duff,  Marston,  E.  Smith.  Work  after  school : 
Lufkin  and  Spott.  Reported  for  penalties  and  verses : 
Duff,  Marston,  E.  Smith,  and  Rogers.  Corporal  punish 
ment  !  "  (Here  a  shiver  ran  through  the  class.)  "  Cor 
poral  punishment,  for  inattention,  for  insubordination 
and  for  general  stupidity :  Marston!  Bangs!  E.  Smith!" 

Three  hangdog  culprits  stumbled  forward,  with  the 
resignation  of  old  offenders.  Grimshaw,  tossing  the 
record  of  the  week  on  the  desk,  took  up  the  birches 
and  eyed  the  desperate  three. 

"Dunces!  Ignorami!"  At  this  cabalistic  accusation, 
a  violent  twitching  took  place  among  the  condemned. 
"  Stand  there  !  "  The  three  lurched  into  position.  The 
master,  satisfying  himself  with  a  glance,  swept  the 
classroom  with  his  eyes,  stroked  the  birches,  and 
began. 

"  I  have  taught  in  the  woods  of  Maine,  I  have  taught 
on  the  prairies  of  Illinois,  I  have  had  occasion  to  chastise 
ignorance,  I  have  had  occasion  to  rebuke  stupidity,  I  have 
had  occasion  to  punish  sloth  —  sloth  !  But  never,  never, 
never,  did  I  expect  to  meet  such  complete,  such  colossal, 


ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY  55 

such  monumental  asininity ! "  The  school  ventured  a 
titter,  led  by  Troutman  in  the  front  row. 

"  Silence ! " 

Troutman,  who  owed  his  position  to  his  ability  to  lead 
the  laugh  at  the  right  moment,  subsided  with  flaming 
ears. 

"  The  boy  Bangs,"  resumed  the  master,  extending  the 
birches,  "  who  at  the  age  of  eleven  cannot  extract  square 
root,  the  boy  Marston,  ignorant  of  the  date  of  our  beloved 
Declaration  of  Independence,  the  boy  E.  Smith,  who  spells 
plain  gold  ring,  p-1-a-n-e  g-o-o-l-d  w-r-i-n-g — AT  THIRTEEN, 
have  not  their  parallels  in  the  history  of  education  ! 
Where  will  such  beginnings  lead  ?  To  what  ends  ? 
Just  as  the  twig  is  bent,  so  is  the  tree  inclined." 

Saying  which,  he  held  up  the  birches  and  inclined  the 
twigs,  while  the  luckless  three,  who  firmly  believed  this 
to  be  the  proper  interpretation  of  the  passage  in  question, 
shivered  in  their  stockings.  "  Dunces  —  advance  !  " 
With  a  sudden  elongation  of  his  arm,  he  caught  them 
one  after  another  by  their  collars  and  thrashed  them 
soundly,  suspended,  struggling  and  kicking,  in  mid-air. 

The  ceremony  over,  and  while  John  in  wonder  awaited 
developments,  the  master  threw  himself  into  his  chair, 
stretched  out  his  feet  until  they  rested  on  the  desk, 
placed  his  arms  akimbo  behind  his  neck,  and  gazed  up 
at  the  ceiling. 

"  Is  Duff  here  ?  "  he  said  presently,  in  gentle  tones. 

A  thrill  of  expectation  ran  about  the  room,  and  a  strap 
ping,  burly  fellow  of  fifteen  beside  John  answered  sur 
lily,  "  Present." 

"Is  Duff  standing  up,"  continued  the  quiet  voice, 
"  so  that  we  can  all  see  him  ? " 

Duff,  his  face  aflame,  rose  and  balanced  awkwardly 
from  foot  to  foot.  "  Yes,  sir." 


5 6  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

"  Good,  very  good  ;  such  lights  must  not  be  hid.  Oh, 
Duff — you  didn't  have  your  lessons  last  week — did 
you?" 

No  answer. 

"  Now  you  studied  hard,  didn't  you,  Duff  ? " 

"Yes,  sir." 

"Poor  Duff — poor  Duff!  It  isn't  your  fault,  is  it, 
Duff?" 

"  N-n-o,  sir." 

A  pause. 

" By  the  way,  Duff  —  do  you  ever  go  sparking? " 

Consternation. 

"  Yes  ?  I  thought  so.  And  did  you  ever  go  sparking 
up  at  the  cross-roads,  Duff  ? " 

The  faces  of  the  front  row  were  fairly  tortured  in  their 
efforts  to  restrain  their  laughter  from  the  redoubtable 
slugger.  The  back  rows  were  beginning  to  titter,  while 
John,  making  no  attempt  to  conceal  his  amusement, 
grinned  up  at  Duff,  who,  doubling  his  fists,  was  star 
ing  desperately  ahead,  longing  to  hurl  himself  upon  his 
persecutor  and  beat  him  to  the  ground. 

"  Wonder  if  you  went  Tuesday  night,  Duff  ? "  asked 
Grimshaw,  fondling  the  birches. 

"  Yes,  sir."  The  answer  was  wrung  from  the  quiver 
ing  boy. 

"A-ha!      Friday  night  ?" 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  And  Thursday  and  Wednesday  nights  ? " 

"  Y-yes,  sir." 

"  Poor  Duff !  Did  he  think  I  was  going  to  pass  them 
over  ?  Poo-oor  Duff  !  —  and  you  didn't  know  your  les 
sons  all  the  week,  did  you,  Duff?" 

"  No,  sir." 

A  pause. 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  57 

"Poo-oor  Duff!  You  must  have  been  very  much 
occupied  those  nights." 

Duff  hung  his  head,  and  tears  of  mortification  sprang 
to  his  eyes ;  the  back  rows  broke  into  an  audible  ripple, 
and  one  person  laughed  outright.  Duff  looked  up  in 
fury,  the  school,  in  amazement.  It  was  John  Gaunt, 
who,  unable  longer  to  contain  his  laughter,  had  thus 
broken  out. 

Grimshaw,  thinking  the  boy  had  received  his  due 
amount  of  punishment,  signalled  to  him  to  drop  into  his 
seat,  and  began  the  routine  of  the  day  with  the  class  in 
percentage. 

Profiting  by  the  confusion,  the  smarting  boy  whirled 
about  and  glared  at  John,  who,  unconscious  of  offence, 
regarded  the  wheelwright's  son  with  a  look  of  intense 
amusement. 

"  Booby !  "  muttered  Duff,  sheltering  himself  behind 
the  lid  of  his  desk.  "  Booby,  I'll  make  you  smart  for  this ! " 

"  What ! "  exclaimed  the  descendant  of  all  the  Gaunts, 
with  eyes  aflame. 

At  the  unwonted  noise,  Duff  subsided  hurriedly,  as 
the  master  sprang  up  and  glared  about  the  room.  A 
moment  later  a  scrap  of  paper  was  tossed  on  John's 
desk. 

"  You  are  a  mamma's  booby  and  a  sneek.  You  wanted  to  git  me 
cought  by  old  Grimes.  I'll  neks  you  after  school.  W.  Duff." 

John  sat  bolt  upright,  and  looked  straight  at  the 
mighty  Duff,  as  though  the  next  moment  he  would 
spring  at  the  throat  of  his  insulter.  Recess  declared, 
he  started  up,  all  fury.  But  fate  decreed  otherwise,  for 
Grimshaw  called  him  to  the  platform,  where  he  was 
compelled  to  sit  in  unwilling  examination  through  the 
entire  play  hour. 


5 8  ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

When  the  school  came  shuffling  in,  Duff's  face  wore 
a  look  of  great  contempt  —  another  scrawl  was  rolled 
down  the  desk,  bearing  a  single  word,  "  Fraidcat." 

When  John's  eye  fell  on  this  crowning  insult  his 
temper  went  entirely,  and  when  at  last  the  releasing 
rod  descended  on  the  desk,  he  fairly  bounded  from 
his  seat  and  down  the  aisle.  Crowding  out  the  door, 
peering  over  one  another's  shoulders  in  their  eagerness, 
came  the  school,  and  at  last,  looming  up  behind,  stalked 
the  burly  Duff. 

"  Ha,  there  you  are ! "  cried  the  champion,  catching 
sight  of  John's  white  face.  "  I'm  going  to  give  you 
something  you'll  remember  to  the  end  of  your  life." 

"  Yes,  here  I  am !  "  the  furious  boy  burst  out,  to  the 
blank  amazement  of  every  one.  "  You  dared  to  call  me 
a  coward.  Will  you  take  it  b'ack,  or  fight  ? " 

"  What,  fight  you  !  "  roared  the  astonished  Duff,  and 
in  great  contempt  he  picked  up  a  lath,  and  made  for 
ward,  with  corporal  punishment  in  his  eye. 

The  next  moment  John  hurled  himself  upon  Duff, 
struck  him  a  resounding  blow  in  the  face,  and  all  but 
bore  him  to  the  ground.  With  a  roar  of  anger  Duff 
shook  him  off,  and  again  blinded  by  rage,  John  threw 
himself  against  his  surprised  opponent.  Time  after 
time,  straight  blows  from  the  shoulder  cast  him  bleed 
ing  down,  but  he  hardly  touched  the  ground  before  he 
bounded  up  and  returned  to  the  assault.  He  circled, 
twisted,  and  turned,  rushed  under  the  other's  guard,  and 
left  savage  marks  on  his  face,  and  once  even  bore  him 
to  the  ground  before  the  fury  of  his  attack.  It  was 
several  minutes  before  the  bewildered  Duff  could  collect 
his  wits ;  then,  bleeding  and  swollen,  he  shook  himself 
together  and  began  to  strike  out,  as  John  came  rushing 
in,  desperate  as  a  dervish,  unmindful  of  himself,  intent 


ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY  59 

only  on  wounding  his  enemy.  Down  and  down  again 
he  went  before  the  sturdy  fists  of  the  descendant  of 
wheelwrights  and  blacksmiths,  and  back  and  back 
again  he  came,  seeing  nothing,  hearing  nothing,  stag 
gering,  reeling,  until  at  last  down  he  went  for  the  last 
time  and  fainted  dead  away. 

When  again  the  light  of  day  broke  over  him,  he  was 
lying  under  an  apple  tree,  staring  up  at  a  patch  of  blue 
sky,  Jonah,  his  darky,  hovering  near  with  frightened 
eyes,  and  Banks,  the  cock  of  the  school,  bending  over 
him,  applying  a  wet  cloth.  In  a  moment  John  remem 
bered. 

"  Where  is  he  ? "  he  shouted,  attempting  to  spring 
up ;  but  dizziness  pulled  away  his  legs,  and  he  collapsed 
into  the  arms  of  his  nurse. 

"  There,  there,  youngster,  no  more  fight  to-day,"  said 
the  other,  not  unkindly,  forcing  him  on  his  back. 
"  Duff's  gone  home,  and  carried  a  pretty  pair  of  eyes 
from  you." 

"  Did  he  apologize  ? "  asked  the  warrior,  weakly. 

"Duff?     Lord,  no,  — it  ain't  in  him." 

"  Then  I'll  fight  him  to-morrow." 

"  Hello ! " 

"I'll  fight  him  to-morrow,  I'll  fight  him  every  day, 
and  I'll  fight  him  as  long  as  I  can  stand  up  or  see." 

"  Well,  well,  youngster,  you're  certainly  a  plucky  one  ; 
but  if  you  want  to  thrash  Duff,  my  boy,  you've  got  to 
learn  to  fight  —  mind  that !  Now  jump  up  and  get  on 
the  pony.  Can  you  get  home  all  right  ? " 

"Of  course,"  John  said  stoutly;  but  his  head  was 
strangely  light  as  he  galloped  home,  with  the  wondering 
Jonah  in  his  wake. 

Never  had  any  one  seen  the  elder  Gaunt  in  such 
spirits  as  he  was  that  night.  Doctor  Magog,  who  had 


been  to  Bromfield  in  the  afternoon,  had  met  Banks  and 
carried  back  the  whole  story.  Gaunt  and  Captain  Brace 
brought  in  bandages  and  applied  salt  pork,  and  early  the 
next  morning,  when  John  was  able  to  stand  up,  they  put 
him  through  a  thorough  drill  in  the  first  principles  of 
"the  manly  art,"  showed  him  how  to  guard,  taught  him 
to  strike  from  the  shoulder,  so  as  to  get  his  body 
behind  the  blow,  gave  him  their  blessing,  and  sent  him 
off  to  battle.  Before  he  left  he  went  into  his  mother's 
room,  to  her  bedside,  where  she  had  called  him. 

"  I  am  only  lazy,"  she  said,  in  answer  to  his  anxious 
inquiries ;  "  nothing  else."  She  took  the  rough  little 
fist  with  its  bruised  knuckles  in  her  soft,  cool  hands,  and 
added,  "  Now,  my  son,  that  you  are  in,  never  give  up." 
There  was  plenty  of  the  old  battling  spirit  on  both  sides 
of  the  house. 

That  evening  back  came  John  again,  bruised,  but 
unbeaten.  "  I  fought  as  long  as  I  could  stand,  and  I 
drew  his  blood  —  see!  "and  in  triumph  he  held  up  his 
sleeve,  which  was  dyed  a  brilliant  crimson,  and  of 
a  deeper  color  than  that  which  bedaubed  the  rest  of  his 
shirt.  That  night  Harry  Gaunt  actually  forgot  the 
cards,  and  sat  up  with  the  captain  planning  the  next 
day's  campaign ;  and  it  was  arranged  that  John  was  to 
play  for  the  wind. 

Wednesday,  John  was  later  than  usual,  but  when  he 
returned,  there  was  a  light  in  his  eye. 

"  To-morrow  I'll  make  him  apologize.  He  was  all 
done  up  to-day.  I  played  for  his  wind,  as  you  told  me, 
sir,"  he  added,  with  the  assurance  of  an  habitu/  of  the 
ring.  He  said  nothing  of  his  own  punishment,  which 
must  have  been  severe,  judging  from  the  amount  of 
pork  consumed. 

On  Thursday,  the  fourth  day,  Harry  Gaunt  held  out 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  61 

during  the  morning,  but  in  the  afternoon  he  weakened, 
and,  the  carriage  appearing,  he  and  Captain  Brace 
drove  off,  venire  d  terre,  for  the  battlefield. 

When  they  returned,  the  expression  of  triumph  on 
the  father's  face  was  something  to  behold.  Captain 
Brace  and  Squire  Troutman  (who  had  received  the  tip) 
were  on  the  back  seat,  while  in  front,  John,  battered  and 
limp,  rested  on  his  father's  shoulder,  pale,  but  with  the 
glow  of  victory  in  his  eyes.  At  the  close  of  the  fourth 
day,  after  the  most  obstinate  conflict  of  all,  Duff  had 
suddenly  drawn  back,  shoved  forth  his  hand,  and 
muttered,  "  Here,  I'm  sick  of  fighting  you.  I  take  it 
back." 

The  elder  Gaunt  drove  home,  belaboring  the  horses, 
and  saluting  the  passers-by  in  such  high  spirits  that 
they  stood  and  gaped  after  the  flying  team,  astonished 
at  the  change  in  the  indifferent  master  of  Windrift. 

"Why,  where's  mother ?  "  the  boy  cried  in  disappoint 
ment,  when  they  rolled  up  to  the  steps. 

Aunt  Liza,  looking  very  grave,  plucked  him  away. 

"You's  to  come  wid  me,  Marse  John,"  she  whis 
pered  ;  then,  as  he  followed  her  upstairs,  she  added,  "  Yo' 
ma  ain't  well,  honey ;  she  stay  in  her  baid  all  de  day." 


CHAPTER   VIII 

FROM  that  bed  Emily  Gaunt  never  rose.  The  days 
of  John's  campaign  had  been  days  of  anguish.  With 
his  separation  from  her,  the  last  prop  had  fallen  away. 
At  first  she  found  that  she  could  only  reach  the  garden- 
seat,  then  only  the  edge  of  the  jessamine.  Thursday 
she  was  so  weak  that  she  was  forced  to  keep  her  bed ; 
on  the  next  day,  attempting  to  rise,  her  strength  suddenly 
forsook  her,  and  she  dropped  back  unconscious.  When 
the  room  came  back  to  her  again,  Doctor  Magog  was 
standing  at  the  foot  of  the  bed,  summoned  by  the 
frightened  Liza. 

"  Come,  come,  now,"  he  cried,  camping  down  cheerily 
on  the  edge,  "let's  have  this  awful  pulse.  Bless  my 
soul !  I  thought  from  the  way  your  nigger  came  for  me, 
it  was  a  matter  of  life  and  death.  Tut,  tut,  your  pulse 
is  all  right,  eh  ?  Now  for  the  tongue  —  a  little  off  — 
ha,  hem !  My  dear  Mrs.  Gaunt,  there's  absolutely 
nothing  constitutionally  the  matter  with  you  —  not  a 
bit!  You're  just  generally  run  down,  that's  all  —  hap 
pens  to  all  of  us !  I'm  going  to  keep  you  in  bed  quite 
a  while  —  give  you  a  thorough  rest."  He  drew  out  his 
handkerchief  and  blew  a  real  Magogian  blast.  "This 
sort  of  thing  comes  when  we  least  expect  it  —  so  it 
does,  so  it  does.  Gad  —  I  remember,  now,  six  years  — 
no,  let  me  see,  five,  five,  five,  was  it  five ;  come  to  think, 
it  was  four  and  a  half  —  four  and  a  half  years  before 
my  famous  operation  on  General  Brock  —  gad,  if  I 

62 


ARROWS  OF  THE   ALMIGHTY  63 

didn't  go  off  myself  one  morning  —  piff !  boom !  help 
less  as  a  baby.  I  thought  the  game  was  up  with  me  — 
we  all  do  —  made  my  will — called  in  a  doctor.  'Doc 
tor,'  says  I,  'how  long  is  it?'  I  says,  '  I'm  a  medical 
man,  I'm  not  afraid.'  And  what  do  you  think  he  said  ? 
By  gad !  he  looked  at  me  and  says.  '  You  young  fool,' 

—  the  very  words,  —  'keep  your  bed,  and  no  more  of 
such  nonsense ;  eat  and  sleep,  and  don't  be  an  ass.' 
Bless  me !  in  a  month  I  was  up  and  chipper  as  a  game 
cock.     Never  have  felt  better  in  my  life  —  look  at  me 
now."     He  slapped  his  fat  little  chest  and  laughed  a 
jolly  laugh,  which  showed  the  ruddiest  of  cheeks. 

She  looked  up  and  smiled  wearily. 

"  Come,  now,"  said  the  doctor  with  a  confidential 
twinkle,  "confess  you  thought  yourself  at  death's 
door." 

"I  have  thought  so  —  for  a  long  time,  Doctor,"  she 
admitted,  the  light  of  hope  flashing  into  her  eyes  again. 

"Tut,  tut  —  didn't  I  know?  What  an  idea!  Bless 
me,  I  see  I'll  have  to  drop  in  right  along,  just  to  keep 
bookish  thoughts  out  of  some  one's  head.  And  —  hello ! 

—  that's  it  —  we'll  have  Master  John  sent  home  after 
morning  school,  that  some  one  may  enjoy  him  all  the 
afternoon.     There,  there,  was  there  ever  such  a  good 
doctor  ? "     Such  a  gleam  of  happiness  as  lighted  her 
face  at  his  words ! 

"  What  an  aching  heart  it  is ! "  he  said  to  himself, 
as  he  closed  the  door  and  passed  down  the  stairs. 
Captain  Brace  happening  at  the  moment  to  issue  from 
his  room,  the  doctor  hailed  him  gravely,  "  A  word 
with  you,  Ned,"  and  led  the  way  to  the  porch.  There 
he  remained  silent  so  long,  tugging  at  his  gloves, 
that  Brace,  growing  impatient,  inquired,  "  Nothing 
serious,  Tom,  I  hope  ?  " 


64  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

"  She  won't  live  out  the  month,"  said  Magog,  turning 
short ;  "  she  may  not  live  a  week,"  he  added  under  his 
breath,  seeingjiow  the  captain  started. 

"No,  no;  not  that,  Tom!  "  Brace  cried  out,  white  as 
a  sheet.  "Good  God!  that's  awful  —  awful!  What 
can  be  the  matter?" 

Doctor  Magog  gave  a  bitter  laugh  and  extended 
one  hand  significantly  over  the  fields,  where  at  that  very 
moment  Harry  Gaunt  on  Two  Spot  was  flying  across 
country.  "  Do  you  understand  ?  Can  you  catch  a 
point?  I've  been  expecting  it  for  a  long  while  — 
poor  little  woman !  Mind  you,  Ned,  no  word  of  this ; 
she  is  not  to  know." 

Captain  Brace,  still  very  nervous,  nodded  back.  "  I 
think,  Tom,"  he  said,  pursing  his  lips  slowly,  "  that  he'd 
better  not  know  —  for  —  for  her  sake  and  his." 

"  I'll  leave  that  in  your  hands,  Ned,"  said  Magog, 
looking  up,  and  with  an  exchange  of  glances,  they 
separated. 

Was  there  ever  a  patient  who  could  not  be  deceived  ? 
To  hope  all,  to  believe  the  best,  is  instinctive  with  the 
dying.  Therein  lies  the  deep  tragedy  —  in  the  false 
joy  and  the  hollow  hope.  And  yet  they  say  that  doc 
tors  who  have  most  deceived,  are  in  turn  as  easily 
tricked,  when  at  the  inscrutable  turn  of  the  wheel,  they 
too  lie  on  their  last  beds  and  await  the  verdict  from 
other  eyes. 

At  noon,  when  Aunt  Liza  bore  in  the  tray,  she  was 
startled  at  the  transformation.  "  Lor',  honey,  how 
young  you  is  lookin' !  "  she  ejaculated,  rolling  her  eyes. 

"You,  too,  a  flatterer,  Aunt  Liza?"  The  mistress 
smiled  back  with  a  glimmer  of  the  old  mischief. 

"I  'clar',  Mis'  Em'ly,  you's  jes'  like  dat  picture," 
Aunt  Liza  cried,  glancing  up  at  the  wall. 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  65 

John  arriving  now,  the  mother  called  him  up  to  her. 

"  They  are  trying  to  make  an  invalid  of  me,  Johnnie- 
boy,"  she  exclaimed,  pinching  the  serious  cheeks  ;  "  but 
they  have  prescribed  such  a  good  tonic  that  I  shall  want 
to  be  ill  for  a  long,  long  time." 

"  And  what  is  that  ?  "  John  inquired  innocently. 

"You,"  answered  the  mother,  her  eyes  kindling,  and 
she  held  him  long  to  her  breast. 

The  days  lengthened  into  the  second  week,  and  yet 
she  was  happy,  without  a  doubt  seeming  to  cross  her 
mind. 

"  I  am  so  weak,  Doctor,"  she  complained  once ; 
"  weaker  than  ever.  See,  I  can  hardly  lift  this 
arm." 

"  Of  course,  of  course,"  he  scolded,  "  that's  the  way 
it  goes,"  and  she,  radiant  in  her  new  hope,  believed. 

One  morning  of  the  second  week  there  sounded  a 
familiar  knock,  and  in  response  to  her,  "  Come  in, 
Johnnie-boy,"  the  door  swung  gently,  and  in  came  her 
son. 

"You've  come  to  bid  me  good  morning,  dear,"  she 
said  with  a  flush  of  pleasure,  "  before  you  gallop  to 
school.  Dear  old  Puff !  Does  he  miss  my  lump  of 
sugar  ? " 

"  Better  still,  mother ;  I  can  stay  with  you  all  the 
time.  Think  of  that !  " 

"  No,  no,  dear,"  she  answered.  He  was  in  her  arms 
now,  his  face  buried  on  her  shoulder.  "  Your  father 
is  very  kind,  but  you  mustn't  neglect  your  duties. 
Besides,  the  afternoons  are  long  — very  long,  don't 
you  see,  Johnnie-boy  ? " 

"  But  it  isn't  my  father." 

"  Not  your  father  ?  Why,  John,  what  do  you  mean  ?  " 
she  cried,  with  a  sudden  premonition. 


66  ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

"  Why,  it's  the  doctor,  of  course  —  and  it's  orders," 
he  replied.  "  I  knew  it  would  please  you.  Aren't 
you  happy  ? " 

"  The  doctor  ?  —  orders  ?"  she  repeated  mechanically. 
What  a  shadow  fell  at  that  moment  over  the  room  ! 
Gone  was  the  sun,  the  fair  stretch  of  blue,  the  white 
circling  clouds,  the  breath  of  the  fields,  the  birds  swerv 
ing  at  the  window, — gone  like  the  snuffing  of  a 
candle. 

"  Yes,  yes,"  cried  a  hearty  voice,  and  Doctor  Magog's 
apple  cheeks  peered  around  the  door.  "  Doctor's  orders 
—  a  very  severe  tyrant  —  at  your  service,  madam." 

"  Shall  I  go  ? "  asked  John,  preparing  to  slip  away. 
She  nodded  her  head ;  her  eyes  were  shut ;  she  could 
not  speak. 

"A  terrible  tyrant,"  he  began,  rubbing  his  hands. 
"  Come,  now,  we  old  saw-bones  can  be  soft-hearted  at 
times.  You  see  the  tonic  was  so  good  we've  decided  to 
double  it.  Two  weeks,  and  we'll  have  you  in  your  gar 
den  again,  with  your  boy  at  your  side.  Who  then'll 
thank  this  ogre  of  a  doctor  ? " 

"Hush  —  oh,  hush!"  She  shut  her  hands  convul 
sively  over  her  eyes. 

"  What  —  what !     Why,  this  is  mutiny  !  " 

She  uncovered  her  face,  and  he  saw  the  truth  in  her 
eyes.  "I  know,"  she  said  faintly,  checking  all  his 
mirth.  "  How  long  —  how  long  will  it  be  ?  Tell  me." 

He  walked  to  the  window.  The  tears  were  on  his 
face  as  he  came  back.  "  God  help  me  —  two  weeks." 

She  lay  under  the  white  canopy  with  closed  eyes,  and 
such  a  deathly  pallor  spread  over  her  face  that  he  started 
forward  in  alarm. 

"  I  could  have  borne  to  die,"  she  said  at  last,  opening 
her  eyes  slowly,  "  had  you  told  me.  What  you  have 


ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY  67 

done  is  worse  than  death.  I  —  I  shall  not  need  you  any 
more.  "Good-by." 

Doctor  Magog,  shaking  and  unnerved,  went  out  with 
out  a  word.  On  the  steps  he  fairly  broke  down.  "  Oh, 
God,  what  have  I  done  ? "  he  cried,  wringing  his  hands. 
Ah,  Doctor  Magog,  all  patients  are  not  alike ! 

No  one  went  into  the  sick-room  that  morning,  not 
even  her  son.  "  I  must  be  alone,"  she  said,  shaking  her 
head  to  all  requests.  "  This  afternoon  send  John  to  me." 

When  he  came,  in  the  cool  of  the  evening,  her  serene 
face  was  without  a  trace  of  the  storm  through  which  she 
had  passed.  "  Call  Sol  and  Aunt  Liza,  Johnnie-boy," 
she  said,  with  an  attempt  at  a  smile,  "  and  have  them 
move  my  bed  to  the  window." 

They  placed  the  great  four-poster  where  she  had 
directed,  so  that  as  she  lay  she  looked  out  on  the  full 
sweep  of  the  skies,  the  flush  of  the  garden,  the  high 
brick  wall,  the  thin  archway,  and  the  cedars.  There, 
in  the  twilight's  pale  decline,  they  left  her,  her  head 
thrown  back  against  the  propping  pillows,  staring  with 
wide  eyes  at  the  boy  who  sat  in  wonder  at  the  foot. 

During  all  this  time  Harry  Gaunt  moved  quietly  about 
the  house,  spending  his  days  in  long,  fierce  runs  over 
the  country,  playing  feverishly  at  the  cards  long  into  the 
first  of  the  morning.  When  he  went  to  bed,  it  was  always 
in  a  room  next  to  Captain  Brace,  with  the  door  left  open 
for  comradeship.  Only  once  had  he  gone  into  his  wife's 
room,  and  then  he  went  no  more  —  the  very  suggestion 
of  death  filled  him  with  anguish.  Brace  thought  him 
deceived,  but  he  was  not ;  it  was  merely  that  his  mind 
was  a  blank. 

One  day,  a  week  after  the  revelation  of  Doctor  Magog, 
Emily  summoned  Aunt  Liza  to  her  bedside.  It  was 


68  ARROWS  OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

a  full  afternoon  in  August.  She  had  been  lying  for 
an  hour  gazing  out  of  the  window.  The  wrens  had 
several  times  poised  at  the  sill  to  peck  at  the  crumbs 
offered  them ;  they  had  grown  to  be  fast  friends.  The 
fresh  green  meadows  were  dotted  with  the  white  of  sheep 
or  the  darker  sides  of  cattle.  From  the  garden  below 
rose  the  scent  of  the  shrubs  and  the  flower-beds.  In 
the  quarters  the  little  negroes  were  romping  and  shout 
ing  over  their  games.  The  lumbering  buzzards  were 
floating  in  languid  circles  against  the  sky.  The  squir 
rels  were  scolding  from  branch  to  branch.  Every 
where  was  the  spirit  of  life  and  youth  —  and  just 
beyond  a  brick  wall  and  the  glimpse  of  an  arch  !  From 
her  bed  she  looked  down  on  the  gray  Gothic  gates  that 
led  to  the  Via  Dolorosa.  Presently  a  negro,  rake  on 
shoulder,  came  singing  down  the  path  and  shambled  on 
his  way,  carelessly  leaving  the  gates  ajar.  She  looked 
down  and  saw  it.  Then  she  looked  up  to  find  Aunt 
Liza  waiting  at  the  bed.  She  talked  with  her  a  long 
time  in  a  faint  voice,  giving  her  directions,  and  as  she  left 
the  room  she  called  her  back  and  sent  her  forgiveness 
to  Doctor  Magog.  A  moment  later  John  rushed  in  from 
the  fields,  his  face  aglow  with  health  and  good  spirits. 

"What  a  happy  boy !"  she  said,  glancing  up  at  him 
with  her  wistful  smile.  "  What  has  he  been  doing  all 
this  bright  day  ?  " 

He  had  been  doing  a  dozen  things.  He  had  taught 
Puff  to  leap,  and  he  had  caught  such  a  string  of  fish  by 
the  cove  under  the  barrier.  "  You  shall  see  them,"  he 
cried,  "when  they  are  cooked.  Liza  is  to  bring  them 
in  —  and,  mother,  they  let  me  ride  Two  Spot!  " 

She  cut  his  flow  of  spirits  short,  saying,  "  Come  here, 
Johnnie-boy.  Lie  down  by  my  side  —  so,  with  your 
head  on  my  shoulder." 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  69 

"Won 'tit  hurt  you?" 

She  shook  her  head.     "  Not  now." 

They  lay  there  in  silence  until  the  sun  had  reached 
the  horizon,  and  the  sky  was  afire  with  color.  Then 
she  began  to  speak. 

"  Listen,  my  son.  You  may  not  understand  me  now, 
but  you  will  some  day  ;  and  so,  remember  what  I  am 
going  to  say  to  you."  She  paused,  her  face  aglow 
with  the  flame  of  the  sunset.  "  Look  into  that  beauti 
ful  sky,  John,  and  see  all  the  wonder  that  is  painted 
there.  How  far  we  seem  to  look  up  into  the  space 
above  us !  I  know  you  are  like  me  in  many  things. 
You  love  nature.  My  son,  always  be  true  to  that 
love.  It  will  help  you,  dear,  through  many  a  trial. 
No  matter  what  may  come  to  you,  no  matter  how  black 
the  future  may  seem — yes,  or  the  present  —  remember 
that  the  greatest  thing  in  all  the  world  is  your  own  soul. 
That  nothing  can  destroy.  I  do  not  know  what  may 
come  to  you  —  I  have  often  wondered,  at  night.  It 
is  easy  to  sin,  John.  Any  one  can  do  that.  Hold  your 
self  above  the  common  herd.  Be  too  proud  to  descend. 
You  are  a  gentleman,  a  gentleman,  John ;  always  re 
member  that.  I  need  not  tell  you  much  more.  You 
are  brave;  you  are  truthful;  you  are  ambitious.  Only 
remember  this,  dear,  when  you  have  forgotten  all  else  I 
have  ever  said  —  how  little  I  have  said  !  — what  can  be 
said  ?  —  remember  that  every  woman  is  of  the  sex  of 
your  mother." 

At  the  end  she  dropped  back,  as  though  exhausted, 
and  her  eyes  closed.  John  had  half  risen,  and  was 
sitting  staring  into  her  face.  She  was  quiet,  without 
stirring,  for  a  long  time,  while  the  dusk  stole  in  and 
blotted  out  the  room.  At  last  her  eyes  opened,  and  she 
stretched  forth  her  arms  and  caught  him  to  her  breast 


70  ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

where  he  lay,  hushed  but  understanding  nothing. 
Then  she  began  to  talk  low.  Several  times,  fancying 
she  was  speaking  to  him,  John  had  questioned  her,  but 
she  did  not  hear  him.  She  was  back  in  the  days  of  her 
childhood,  in  the  paths  forever  green,  the  sweet, 
the  happy,  the  unforgotten.  Just  as  the  lights  began 
to  shimmer  from  the  windows  across  the  bay,  just  as 
below  Gaunt  and  Captain  Brace  were  rising  from  the 
afternoon  game,  and  Sol's  measured  tones  were  announc 
ing  the  supper,  just  as  Aunt  Liza  came  in  bearing  the 
candles,  the  mother's  arms  tightened  a  little,  her  head 
half  rose,  and  with  a  heart-rending  voice  she  cried, 
"Harry!  Harry!" 


CHAPTER   IX 

IN  the  early  summer  of  the  year  1852,  the  County  Line 
stage-coach  stood  at  Talbot,  lingering  before  the  doors 
of  the  White  Horse  Tavern.  Tom  Feeter,  from  the 
box,  reins  in  hand,  had  twice  sent  the  whistling  lash 
cracking  through  the  air,  and  shouted,  "  Aboard ! 
aboard!"  At  a  third  impatient  summons  a  young 
fellow  with  strong  eyebrows  who  was  sitting  at  his  side 
cried  out  :  "  Start  'em  up,  Tom.  It's  the  only  way  to 
fetch  him." 

"  All  right,  Mister  John,  if  you  say  so,"  replied  the 
veteran,  grinning.  "  He's  a  great  chap,  ain't  he,  now? 
Hi,  you  niggers,  let  go  them  horses'  heads."  The 
darkies  tumbled  back  at  a  volley  from  the  whip.  A 
tightening  of  the  reins,  a  cluck  to  the  horses,  and  the 
creaking  coach  began  to  roll  slowly  down  the  street. 

Instantly  the  door  of  the  tavern  was  flung  violently 
open,  and  a  dapper  little  fellow  bounded  out  and  tore 
after  the  coach,  which,  slackening,  allowed  him  to  swing 
up  to  the  roof. 

"  Gracious  heavens !  kept  you  waiting  ? "  cried  a 
merry  voice,  accompanied  by  a  merry  wink  from  a  blue 
eye  and  a  hazel  one,  that  together  gave  the  face  an 
indescribable  air  of  frolic  and  mischief.  "John,  false 
friend,  why  did  you  not  call  me  ? " 

"  We  have  done  nothing  else  for  the  last  quarter  of 
an  hour,  Jack."  The  broad  shoulders  gave  a  shrug, 
and  a  heavy  hand  descended  on  the  little  fellow's  back. 

71 


7a  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

"Easy,  easy,  Mr.  Giant!  Strange,  isn't  it,  I  didn't 
hear  you  ?  Can't  make  it  out,"  said  Jack,  innocently, 
looking  at  Tom  Feeter,  who  exploded  in  a  roar  of 
laughter  at  the  very  sight  of  the  twinkling  eyes  and 
the  mouth,  the  corners  of  which  always  turned  up. 
"  Hello,  now !  " 

The  exclamation  was  prompted  by  a  sudden  outcry 
that  rose  behind  them.  At  this  moment,  down  the 
street,  the  landlord  of  the  White  Horse,  his  rosy  daugh 
ter  Bess,  and  a  half-dozen  negroes  were  seen  tumbling 
out  of  doors,  beckoning  frantically  to  the  fast-disappear 
ing  coach.  Jack  was  on  the  box  in  a  moment,  waving 
his  hat  in  vigorous  response,  until  the  coach  had  swerved 
behind  a  bend  and  rattled  away. 

"  There's  no  use  tellin',  Mr.  Hazard,"  said  Tom 
Feeter,  with  a  knowing  grin,  when  Jack  had  tumbled 
again  into  his  seat,  blown  and  flushed.  "  You've  made 
a  right  smart  impression  there,  sah  !  " 

"Think  so?" 

"  Never  heard  tell  of  Bess  running  out  like  that  be 
fore,"  added  the  driver,  with  a  wise  shake  of  his  grizzled 
whiskers  ;  "  no,  sah ! " 

"It  was  flattering,  now,  wasn't  it?  Poor 'maiden  — 
alas,  say  I." 

"  You  do,  eh  ? "  said  John,  with  a  chuckle.  "  Thought 
so.  Well,  what's  up  now  ? "  For  Jack  had  suddenly 
stopped,  opened  his  mouth  and  brought  his  palm  down 
with  a  resounding  slap. 

"  Wrong,  wrong  !  Oh,  vanitas  vanitatum!  Let  tb's 
be  a  lesson  to  thee.  Jove,  it  was  the  reckoning !  " 

"  Stop  at  once,  Tom,  and  drive  right  back,  or  Jack 
will  never  forgive  you,"  cried  John,  with  mock  soLJ- 
tude. 

"  Mr.  Feeter,  do  no  such  thing !  " 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  73 

"  Lord  bless  you,  if  you  kin  bedevil  old  Sam  Pringle," 
cried  Feeter,  with  a  chuckle,  "  sarves  him  right,  say  I." 

"  Bedevil  ?  The  word  is  strange,  but  your  meaning 
is  unmistakable,  Mr.  Feeter.  What  a  sentiment  is  this 
in  the  company  of  honorable  men  ?  I  see  I  must  ex 
plain  —  address  your  ears." 

Feeter  scratched  his  head  and  gazed  helpless  from 
one  to  the  other,  as  the  little  fellow,  with  an  air  of  mys 
tery,  pulled  out  a  note-book,  and,  with  finger  and  thumb 
in  air,  proceeded  to  expound,  in  high  burlesque. 

"  Primo  —  observe.  I  forget  a  reckoning  —  in  other 
words  we  will  say  I  owe  the  world  a  sum.  That's  one 
thing.  Down  we  go  in  the  book :  J.  Hazard,  debtor 
to  the  world  —  one  reckoning  overlooked.  But  se- 
cundo,  supposing  I  forget  my  change?" 

"What?" 

"Or  lose  my  purse?" 

"Hum!" 

"  Or,  in  my  innocence,  am  fleeced  by  low  sharpers  ? " 

"Well." 

"  You  catch  my  meaning,  sir.  I  see  intelligence  in 
your  eye.  Concretely,  I  give  landlord  five-dollar  bill, 
account  at  three  dollars,  and  drive  off.  What  then  ? 
Why  certainly,  I  say  the  world  owes  me  two  dollars. 
Down  it  goes :  World  debtor  to  J.  Hazard  two  dollars, 
for  one  change  withheld.  End  of  month,  there  you 
are.  Account  ready  to  balance  —  simple,  isn't  it  ? " 

"Certainly,  sah;  right  proper,  too,  sah." 

"  Precisely.  Mr.  Feeter,  you  are  a  man  of  quick 
comprehension  and  excellent  judgments.  You  can't 
guess  how  often  I  do  forget  my  change  —  happened 
night  before  last." 

"  Hark ! "  John  broke  in,  laying  one  finger  on  his 
nose. 


74  ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

"  You  don't  remember.  I'm  not  surprised,  not  at  all, 
John  Gaunt,  though  I  didn't  expect  you'd  confess  to 
it.  But  enough,  enough.  The  conversation  is  growing 
stale.  Mr.  Feeter,  how  do  you  like  my  boots  ? " 

The  talk  presently  narrowed  down  to  two,  or  rather 
to  one.  Jack  rattled  away  in  extravagant  style,  taking 
off  the  favorite  actors  of  the  day,  the  leading  barristers, 
the  college  divines,  the  cat  in  the  chimney,  the  little 
dog  down  the  rain  barrel,  etc.,  etc.,  until  his  listener 
with  aching  sides  begged  off.  John  had  drawn  apart 
silently  toward  his  end  of  the  box,  his  memory  begin 
ning  to  play  over  the  hundred  and  one  familiar  objects 
constantly  rising  along  the  way.  He  had  grown  into  a 
strapping,  thick-chested,  long-armed  fellow  of  nineteen 
—  in  figure  the  counterpart  of  his  father  —  a  good  three 
inches  over  six  feet.  The  eyebrows,  falcon-like  in  child 
hood,  were  even  stronger  now,  the  gray  eyes  insistent 
but  suggesting  melancholy,  the  mouth  sharp,  thin,  and 
resolute ;  a  face  bold  in  outline,  clean-cut,  older  than  his 
years,  and  sadder. 

In  a  moment  straight  ahead  sprang  up  the  red-brick 
schoolhouse.  There  was  the  tree  under  which  he  had 
fought  his  great  campaign  with  Duff.  Was  old  Grimes, 
he  wondered,  still  belaboring  the  recreants  with  rod 
and  tongue,  and  the  inevitable  quotation,  "  Just  as  the 
twig  is  bent,"  with  the  accompanying  grim  snapping  of 
the  birch  ?  They  were  opposite  the  windows  now,  look 
ing  through  at  the  rows  of  sprawling  children  —  his 
place  unoccupied. 

"  Lord,  I  feel  just  as  though  it  were  waiting  for  me 
now,"  he  thought.  "  What  a  queer  little  devil  I  was ! 
I  used  to  think  I  never  could  be  so  old  as  then  —  feel 
so  now,  but  I  suppose  that  too  will  pass." 

Away  went   the   schoolhouse,   and   on    rumbled   the 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  ]$ 

coach,  past  the  Caxtons*  and  the  Llewellyns',  past  the 
red  roof  of  the  Troutmans',  over  the  county  bridge, 
where,  looking  far  down  the  bay,  one  caught  the  first 
sight  of  Windrift  glimmering  white  behind  the  pop 
lars.  There  to  the  left  were  the  fields  through  which 
he  had  roamed  in  the  moonlight.  There  in  the  distance, 
gleaming  in  the  sun,  were  the  cove  and  the  barrier 
where  he  had  gone  to  fish  that  day.  They  overtook 
a  familiar  buggy  and  a  piebald  horse,  and  there,  sure 
enough,  was  Lufkin  —  no  —  yes,  Lufkin  of  the  Bull's 
Eye,  but  grown  so  fat  he  hardly  knew  him.  John  had 
been  away  at  college  but  two  years;  nothing  was 
changed  —  and  yet  all  was  different. 

The  shadow  on  his  face  deepened  as  they  swerved 
from  the  highway  and  began  the  long  avenue  with  the 
white  pillars  of  Windrift  showing  far  in  the  vista.  Jack 
was  chattering  away,  popping  a  hundred  questions,  about 
the  crops,  the  elections,  how  many  children  Feeter  had, 
how  much  did  they  weigh,  etc.,  and  Feeter  was  rolling 
in  his  seat,  his  cheeks  shaking  with  laughter  as  a  picka 
ninny  scudded  up  and  threw  open  the  gate. 

John  stared  down  with  a  melancholy  air:  there  was 
no  joy  in  this  home-coming  for  him.  There  were  rav 
ages  in  the  fences,  and  the  cows  and  the  sheep  were 
grazing  everywhere  as  they  came  up.  The  lawns  were 
patchy,  the  hedges  were  broken,  and  green  things 
were  creeping  through  the  gravel.  The  guinea  fowl 
were  running  in  squadrons  on  the  terrace,  darting 
among  the  rose-bushes  —  his  mother's  rose-bushes  — 
where  he  used  to  distinguish  her  slim  figure  as  he  can 
tered  up  on  Puff.  Everywhere  were  neglect  and  shab- 
biness.  Another  lurch  and  they  were  climbing  down 
at  the  step,  where  only  old  Sol  and  Aunt  Liza  were 
waiting  to  welcome  him  home. 


76 

"Where's  my  father?"  inquired  John,  searching  in 
wonder. 

"  In  the  big  room,  Marse  John." 

John,  intrusting  Jack  to  Aunt  Liza,  pushed  in  through 
the  gloomy  hallway,  and  was  passing  on  when  some  one, 
who  had  run  down  the  stairs  at  the  sound  of  the  coach, 
caught  him  by  the  hand  and  held  him  off  at  arm's 
length,  with  looks  of  admiration. 

"  What  arms,  what  shoulders,  John  !  "  cried  Captain 
Brace,  a  little  bald,  with  new  lines  about  the  lips  and 
eyes.  "  Duff  wouldn't  stand  much  chance  now,  would 
he,  though  ?  No,  by  gad,  he  wouldn't !  Where's  Mr. 
Hazard?" 

"  Liza  has  him  in  charge.     Where's  my  father  ? " 

The  captain  answered  him  with  a  gesture,  and  led 
the  way  through  the  dining  hall  to  the  winter  parlor 
beyond.  A  figure  at  a  table  by  the  window,  huddled 
over  a  pack  of  cards,  looked  up  expectantly,  and  began 
to  complain  in  a  peevish  voice:  "  Ned, you've  been  away 
an  hour  at  least.  Now,  what  is  the  matter  ?  Here  are 
your  cards  now." 

"  It  is  I,  father ;  "  and  John  loomed  up  out  of  the 
shadow  over  Captain  Brace's  shoulder. 

"  Oh,  so  it  is,"  the  father  said,  looking  up  guiltily. 
He  held  out  his  hand,  and  his  eyes  dropped.  "  You've 
grown,  John." 

"I  reckon  I  have,"  said  John,  absently.  He  was 
staring  at  the  limp,  disordered  figure,  and  the  shaking 
hand. 

"  And  you've  come  home  —  on  vacation,  haven't 
you  ? "  continued  the  father,  still  avoiding  the  other's 
glance.  He  began  to  finger  the  cards  nervously.  "  You 
have  a  friend,  haven't  you?  I'm  sure  he  is  welcome." 

" Thank  you,  sir,  and  with  your  permission  I'  11  j  oin  him. ' ' 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  77 

"  I'm  glad  you've  come,  John,"  the  father  said 
kindly,  very  much  relieved ;  and  then  in  a  moment  he 
forgot  him  entirely,  for  the  game  had  begun. 

John  turned  on  his  heel  and  moved  away.  Not  for 
an  instant  had  Captain  Brace's  questioning  eyes  left  the 
young  fellow's  face.  Did  his  self-control  conceal  bitter 
ness,  he  wondered,  or  only  relief  ? 

"  Sho,  Marse  John,  don't  you  mind  him,"  Liza  said, 
in  waiting  at  the  foot  of  the  steps,  sympathy  kindling  in 
her  old  eyes.  "  He  been  gittin'  tumble  bad  dese  days ; 
it  don't  seem  like  he  knowed  things  no  mo'.  He  ack 
like  he  was  plum  crazy  'way  f'om  dem  kyards." 

John  inclined  his  head  —  he  had  no  need  to  be  told 
what  his  eyes  had  seen.  He  went  up  the  broad  stairs 
alone,  pausing  on  the  balcony  that  overlooked  the 
parlor,  and  there  the  memory  of  another  night  came 
back  to  him. 

Everything  recalled  the  days  with  his  mother.  In 
the  years  that  had  followed  her  death  he  had  been 
conscious  of  nothing  but  a  vague  weight  of  sorrow,  an 
enveloping  cloud.  Child  that  he  was,  he  had  never 
really  known  the  loss  ;  and  now  that  after  two  years  he 
had  returned,  for  the  first  time,  in  all  its  vividness,  rose 
the  ache  of  the  eternal  separation.  He  peered  into  the 
dusk  of  the  great  room,  and  again  saw  the  circle  of 
lights  on  the  table,  the  flash  of  coin,  and  the  color  of 
strewn  cards.  He  left  the  balcony,  went  on  up  the 
stairs,  and  suddenly  stood  in  her  room.  The  smiling 
portrait  was  on  the  wall  at  his  elbow;  before  him 
opened  the  window  through  which  she  had  looked.  He 
moved  over  and  stood  in  its  light.  There  was  the 
garden,  with  the  wall  and  the  arch  and  the  cedars 
beyond.  Another  sunset  streaked  the  vesper  skies, 
another  twilight  stole  over  the  land  as  he  gazed  and 


78  ARROWS  OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

gazed,  and  all  the  world  and  all  the  sky  and  all  his 
soul  were  empty.  There  Aunt  Liza  found  him,  long 
after  supper  had  been  announced,  and  Sol  had  carried 
the  master  helpless  to  his  seat,  and  Captain  Brace  and 
Jack  were  chatting,  wondering  what  had  become  of 
John,  —  there  Aunt  Liza  found  him,  gazing  up  into  the 
darkling  sky,  silent  and  lost. 

"  Honey !  —  Marse  John !  —  Honey !  " 

Thrice  she  called  him  unanswered,  and  then  plucked 
him  gently  by  the  sleeve. 


CHAPTER  X 

THE  life  of  a  man  proceeds  by  bounds  and  waits. 
One  day  the  child  awakes  and  finds  he  has  a  soul,  and 
when  he  turns,  the  self  of  yesterday  is  distant  and  indis 
tinct.  But  having  thus  suddenly  achieved  his  new  posi 
tion,  there  his  progress  rests  until,  as  unexpectedly, 
some  half-dozen  years  later,  he  takes  another  leap  and 
assumes  the  carriage  and  demeanor  of  majestic  man. 
Then  succeeds  another  period — a  period  of  excessive 
self-consciousness  and  dignity  —  when  he  is  ready  to 
explode  at  a  pin-prick,  a  time  of  tempests  and  brooding 
pride.  Then  suddenly  arrives,  one  day,  a  great  grief 
or  a  great  responsibility,  and  he  looks  back  and  smiles 
at  his  pretensions  —  at  last  a  man.  To  one  who  thus 
reviews  his  life,  only  the  changes  remain  vivid  and 
intense ;  the  intervals  are  long,  hazy,  and  uncertain. 

So  it  was  with  John.  The  four  years  succeeding  his 
mother's  death  had  been  four  years  of  stagnation. 
True,  he  grew  in  bodily  vigor.  There  was  no  horse 
he  could  not  conquer,  no  ditch  or  rail  to  daunt  him. 
He  swung  himself  to  the  tops  of  the  loftiest  trees ;  he 
swam  against  the  swiftest  tides.  At  the  hounds  no  one 
could  show  him  the  way. 

He  quickly  became  a  leader  among  the  neighbor 
hood  boys,  and  the  pranks  and  depredations  of  these 
madcaps  made  them  the  bogy  of  the  peace-loving  for 
miles  about.  He  won  the  right  to  lead,  but  it  was  by 
the  force  of  his  muscle  and  the  strength  of  his  will. 

79 


go  ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

He  was  feared  rather  than  loved.  He  had  admirers, 
followers  in  plenty,  but  scarcely  a  friend. 

The  cloud  of  the  first  revelation  was  still  heavy  upon 
him.  He  was  gloomy,  at  times  morose.  He  shunned 
the  garden,  never  by  any  chance  approaching  the  little 
arch  in  the  high  brick  wall.  He  shut  his  mind,  he 
refused  to  think,  still  constantly  striving  to  escape  from 
his  own  unwelcome  company.  At  the  bottom  of  his 
soul  he  was  miserably  unhappy  in  the  morbid  atmos 
phere  of  his  father. 

At  seventeen  he  completed  his  course  under  "old 
Grimes  "  and  took  the  second  leap  in  life.  He  grew 
exceedingly  sensitive  to  his  own  dignity  and  importance, 
hectored  the  colored  quarters  in  mannish  style,  and 
instructed  every  one,  though  advice  offered  in  return 
would  rouse  him  at  once  to  arms.  His  home  became 
even  more  unbearable,  so  to  escape  from  its  gloom 
he  decided  to  enter  college.  There  was  no  opposition 
to  the  suggestion.  It  suited  the  father  very  well  to  be 
free  of  him,  for  he  was  always  conscious  and  shifting 
under  the  scrutiny  of  his  son.  And  so  in  the  fall  of 
the  year  1850  John  turned  his  back  on  the  meadows 
and  coves  of  Belle  River  and  entered  the  college  of  Yale. 

Up  the  battered  halls  of  South  Middle,  up  the  nar 
row  wooden  flights  he  climbed,  searching  for  room 
No.  19,  and  wondering  what  sort  of  man  his  room-mate 
would  be.  Students  in  their  shirt  sleeves,  pipe  in  mouth, 
were  lounging  in  and  out,  staring  curiously  at  the 
newcomer,  but  he  squared  his  shoulders ;  he  was  scant 
respecter  of  traditions.  On  the  third  floor  he  found 
a  battle-scared  door  with  two  figures  that  might,  in  some 
measure,  approach  a  one  and  a  nine.  From  within 
arose  an  unusual  racket,  in  which  could  be  distin 
guished  the  wail  of  a  flute  and  the  whine  of  a  dog. 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  81 

John  hesitated  a  moment,  knocked,  without  answer,  and 
pushed  in. 

A  little  fellow  sunk  in  the  corner  of  an  easy-chair 
was  blowing  for  dear  life  on  a  flute  a  species  of  jig  to  a 
ragged  yellow  cur  whom  he  was  maintaining  with  one 
foot  on  his  hind  legs,  meanwhile  bobbing  his  head  and 
snapping  one  hand,  in  vain  endeavor  to  make  him  caper ; 
all  of  which  sadly  marred  the  rhythm  of  the  music. 
Overhead  a  magpie  swinging  from  a  perch  was  scold 
ing  at  such  pranks. 

The  teacher  ceased  his  labors,  converted  the  flute 
into  a  weapon  of  defence,  and  turning  on  the  newcomer 
a  pair  of  roguish  eyes,  one  blue  and  the  other  hazel, 
exclaimed :  — 

"  Ha,  stand  back  and  avaunt,  spirit  of  unrest !  '  Oh, 
come  ye  in  peace,  or  come  ye  in  war  ? '  Ergo,  are  you 
a  gallant  son  of  '55,  or  a  base  and  brutal  sophomore? 
If  you  are  neither  sophomore,  bailiff,  or  dun  —  why, 
here's  my  hand." 

John  burst  out  laughing.     "  I  am  John  Gaunt" 

"  What,  my  venerable  room-mate  ?  Salve  !  Took  you 
for  Fee-fi-fo-fum,"  the  other  cried,  springing  up  and  seiz 
ing  his  hand.  "  Ahem  !  I  trust  you  are  a  man  of  good 
moral  habits." 

John  laughed  outright.  "  Hazard,  I  like  you,"  he 
said  with  a  smile;  "and  I'm  devilish  glad  to  have  such 
a  defender." 

"Thanking  you  very  kindly,"  the  little  fellow  re 
sponded,  with  a  number  of  rapid  winks.  "  I  look  small, 
but  my  strength  is  deceptive,  as  many  have  found  to 
their  cost,  sir.  And  now  sit  down  and  tell  me  all  about 
yourself." 

John  was  carried  by  storm.  They  were  cronies  in  a 
moment.  Somehow  his  gloomy  thoughts  could  never 
G 


82  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

long  remain  in  the  presence  of  Jack's  fine  spirits,  and 
slunk  away,  routed  at  once  by  a  merry  glance  and  the 
jolly  upward  curve  of  the  mirth-inviting  mouth.  Was 
there  ever  seen  such  a  fellow?  Singing  and  dancing 
from  bed-rise  until  the  wee  small  hours,  Jack  had  the 
restlessness  of  the  unoccupied.  To  lay  a  wager  was 
his  constant  delight.  When  all  other  sources  of  amuse 
ment  failed,  he  would  secure  a  beetle,  and  placing  it  in 
a  circle,  would  bet  with  an  imaginary  Mr.  Trim  as  to 
which  quadrant  the  beast  would  depart  by  —  keeping 
strict  accounts  in  the  little  blue  book  of  his  breast 
pocket. 

He  would  bet  with  anybody,  on  anything  —  at 
proper  odds.  The  recitation  hours,  which  he  philo 
sophically  regarded  as  the  inevitable  drawbacks  to  a 
college  life,  he  enlivened  by  numerous  wagers  with  his 
neighbors  —  that  two  of  the  first  three  up  would  flunk; 
that  the  last  man  to  recite  would  be  from  the  back  row, 
or  the  second  from  the  first ;  that  Briggs  would  drop  his 
books  again ;  that  Professor  Rootmeyer  would  make  use 
of  the  expression,  "Very  creditable,  indeed,  sir,"  at  least 
ten  times  in  thirty  minutes ;  and  by  such  inventions  he 
managed  to  endure  the  hour. 

His  recitations  were  the  joy  of  the  classroom,  and 
perhaps  secretly  of  his  teachers,  among  whom  his  trans 
lations  soon  became  classic.  When  called  upon,  Jack 
would  spring  to  his  feet  with  alacrity,  eager  and  absorbed 
in  the  text.  It  mattered  not  a  bit  what  he  knew  of  the 
passage,  he  always  recited. 

"  'Ter  Hazard,"  calls  out  the  lover  of  Virgil  and 
the  flowing  line,  "begin  to  translate  at  the  top  of  the 
page." 

Up  jumps  Jack,  snatching  a  book  from  Hazen  on  his 
right.  He  sees  a  few  words  that  he  knows,  sprinkled 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  83 

here  and  there;  that  is  all  that  is  necessary.  Off  he 
fires,  describing  in  tremendous  language  the  chariot  race, 
the  horses  rearing  and  plunging,  the  shrill  acclaim  of 
the  theatre,  the  straining  of  the  leashes,  the  pistol  crack 
of  the  whip,  the  exhortations  of  the  driver  —  crash  !  now 
one  is  down,  now  another;  still  see-sawing,  on  they 
speed  —  and  now  the  end,  the  goal,  the  victory ! 

During  the  recital  the  agony  of  the  class  is  something 
fearful  to  behold.  Rootmeyer,  the  "  Roman,"  as  the 
boys  call  him,  screws  about  on  one  leg  of  his  chair,  his 
eyes  bulging  at  the  text  in  astonishment,  his  brow,  at 
each  successive  burst  of  eloquence,  twitching  as  though 
from  pain.  When  Jack  is  quite  through,  he  wipes  his 
eyes  with  his  pocket-handkerchief,  and  says,  "  That  will 
do  —  that  will  quite  do,  Mr.  Hazard,  a  trifle  free  — 
humph,  yes,  a  trifle  free,  but  excellently  well  done. 
Ahem !  Will  'ter  Jones  try  the  same  ? "  Jones  rises 
and  reads,  with  monotonous  correctness,  the  meeting  of 
JEneas  and  the  sibyl ! 

Is  Jack  overwhelmed  ?  Not  in  the  least.  He  is  back 
in  his  seat,  whispering  to  Hazen,  "  Bet  you  even  the 
Roman  lets  me  through." 

The  Roman  told  the  scene  in  faculty  meeting,  and 
though  thereafter  he  never  failed  to  put  Jack  on  the  rack 
twice  a  week,  sure  enough,  at  the  end  of  the  term,  he  let 
him  through.  There  was  method  in  Jack's  madness. 

A  popular  favorite  John  Gaunt  never  became.  He 
was  admired,  he  was  respected,  and  in  the  frays  with  the 
sophomores,  in  the  conflicts  with  the  police  and  the  fire 
department, — anywhere,  in  a  word,  where  blows  were 
to  be  given  and  taken,  —  he  was  a  recognized  leader. 
He  had  a  way  of  looking  too  deep  into  men,  his  eyes 
were  too  sharp  for  hypocrisy;  and  when  he  had  unearthed 
a  toady  or  a  humbug,  his  dislike  was  too  apparent. 


84  ARROWS  OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

Perhaps  it  was  because  he  was  older  in  thought  than 
his  comrades  that  many  felt  not  quite  at  their  ease 
before  his  searching  eyes.  It  was  this  contrary  dispo 
sition  that  earned  for  the  two  friends  the  sobriquets 
of  "Johnnie  Gay"  and  "Johnnie  Glum." 

Jack  Hazard  was  the  idol  of  the  class,  with  a  dozen 
imitators  who  retailed  his  wit  and  copied  his  tricks  of 
speech.  Every  one  came  to  know  of  his  accounts  with 
the  world  and  Mr.  Trim,  of  his  bets  and  of  his  bluffs. 
He  even  wrote  verses,  after  the  manner  of  his  revered 
Tom  Hood,  which  he  sang  to  repeated  encores  in  a 
thin,  sweet  tenor.  There  never  was  a  more  generous 
favorite :  so  long  as  he  could  borrow  a  dollar  or  gain 
new  credit,  any  one  might  have  for  the  asking. 

A  dozen  times  during  the  first  year  he  was  down  on 
the  faculty's  black  list,  but  by  the  strength  of  his  wit 
he  succeeded  in  squirming  through.  Sophomore  year, 
every  one  swore  it  was  the  wonder  of  the  college  how 
he  managed  to  hold  his  class,  for  he  overcut  and  flunked 
until  even  John  remonstrated.  But  the  dean  had  been 
a  classmate  of  his  father's  (only  the  wise  can  under 
stand),  and  had  a  soft  spot  in  his  heart  for  the  merry 
recreant.  At  length,  however,  an  event  occurred,  on 
the  last  day  of  Jack's  sophomore  year,  which  broke 
down  the  limits  of  even  that  kindly  man's  patience,  and 
Jack  bade  farewell  to  college,  with  the  faculty  sitting 
on  his  misdeeds,  while  his  friends  shook  him  sadly 
by  the  hand  and  said,  "  Wish  you  luck,  old  fellow ;  but 
we're  afraid  the  game  is  up."  This  was  how  it  came 
about. 

The  last  examination  was  buried,  and  the  glorious 
class  of  '55,  revelling  in  their  new  dignity  of  juniors, 
had  gathered  under  the  hospitable  roof  of  a  favorite 
inn,  to  pass  the  flowing  bowl  and  make  the  night  merry 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  85 

with  their  songs.  Jack,  having  for  certain  failed  on 
at  least  half  of  his  subjects,  was  naturally  the  chief 
reveller.  He  was  called  upon  again  and  again.  He 
sang  his  best  songs,  he  gave  his  drollest  speeches,  he 
took  off  Prexie's  lecture  to  the  freshman  class,  he  imi 
tated  Rootmeyer's  cough  and  pocket-handkerchief,  and 
finally  wound  up  with  a  sketch  of  that  Roman  listen 
ing  to  the  chariot-race  translation,  which  was  received 
standing,  with  cheers.  The  glasses  had  clinked  freely, 
the  songs  were  gaining  more  in  volume  than  in  har 
mony.  It  was  the  last  evening  before  breaking  up 
for  the  summer,  and  the  party  was  getting  beyond  con 
trol —  such  gatherings  sometimes  did  —  when  cheers 
for  '55  set  in. 

"  Most  popular  man  in  '55,"  shouted  a  voice. 

"Hazard!  Hazard!  Hazard!" 

Jack,  very  unsteady  on  his  feet,  rose  and  made  a 
profound  bow.  Then  followed  a  chorus  of  shouts 
inquiring  for  the  biggest  dig,  the  strongest,  the  pret 
tiest,  the  coolest-headed  cribber,  the  most  religious, 
etc. ;  all  of  which  received  uproarious  nominations. 
Matters  were  becoming  extremely  boisterous,  when 
some  wag  of  discord  had  to  sing  out  in  deep,  rumbling 
voice,  "And,  oh!  who  —  has  the  —  best  —  figure?" 

"  Chalmers  !  "  shouted  some. 

"  No,  no ;  Brown  —  Robinson,"  from  others. 

All  of  a  sudden  up  sprang  Jack,  flushed,  earnest,  and 
excited,  crying,  "No,  no,  boys,  no;  Hazard!  Hazard's 
got  the  best  figure." 

A  great  roar  went  up,  followed  by  cries  of,  "  Oh, 
come  now,  Jack !  "  "  Go  easy,  Jack,  go  easy,"  intended 
to  egg  him  on.  Some  one  pulled  the  little  fellow  down, 
but  he  bounded  up  again,  insisting  earnestly,  "  I  have, 
I  have  —  it's  true." 


86  ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

"  Oh,  Jack,  oh  ho,  Johnnie  Gay,  oh  ho  !  "  roared  back 
the  tables  in  delight.  Chairs  were  thrown  crashing  to 
the  floor,  every  one  came  piling  in  from  the  other  rooms. 
In  an  instant  the  walls  were  choked  up  to  the  ceilings 
with  men  clambering  up  to  laugh  at  Jack,  who,  sway 
ing  below  in  the  pit,  flushed  and  angry,  suddenly 

pounded  on  the  table  and  roared  out,  "  And  by , 

I'll  prove  it." 

Before  any  one  could  guess  what  he  intended,  he  had 
flung  aside  his  coat  and  stripped  off  his  shirt.  John 
Gaunt  and  Robinson,  springing  forward,  caught  him  in 
their  arms  just  as  he  was  reaching  down. 

In  a  moment  the  room  was  rocking  with  the  shock  of 
laughter,  the  crowd  surged  and  swayed,  crushing  glasses 
and  chairs,  some  hotheads  crying,  "Go  on,  go  on,  Jack — " 
others,  "  Prove  it  —  let  him  prove  it !  "  But  Jack's  body 
guard  forming  quickly,  bore  him,  struggling,  out  of  the 
choked  and  stuffy  room. 

"  Here,  on  with  his  shirt  —  the  little  devil !  "  Robinson 
cried.  But  Jack  would  not  be  dressed.  He  fought, 
he  struggled,  he  implored.  Out  ran  the  widow  with  a 
blanket. 

"  For  the  love  of  God,  gintlemen,  t'row  this  around 
'im  and  carry  'im  home,  or  it's  ruined  the  place'll  be." 

John  and  Robinson  bore  him  up  the  street,  where  at 
the  corner  the  ferret  eye  of  policeman  No.  32  detected 
them.  In  a  moment  the  hawk  of  the  night  swooped 
down,  club  in  hand.  There  was  no  love  lost  between 
the  right  arm  of  the  law  and  the  college. 

"  Under  arrest  there,"  he  cried ;  then,  "  Oh,  it's  Mr. 
Hazard,  is  it  ?  " 

"  Hello — Charlie !  Hello  —  my—  ol'—  friend — Char 
lie  ! "  sang  out  the  muffled  voice.  "  Arrest  'em,  Charlie. 
Run  'em  in.  Lock  'em  up,  Charlie,  —  they're  jealous 


ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY  87 

of  me  —  because  I  have  the  _^-nest  figure  —  the  jf-nest 
figure  in  fif-ty-five !  " 

"  Hist,  Mr.  Hazard,"  said  the  policeman,  with  a  grin. 
"  Moind,  sir,  the  dean  is  jist  afther  goin'  up  the  street." 

"  Whoopee!  "  burst  out  Jack,  and,  flinging  himself  free 
of  his  captors,  away  he  scudded  along  the  sidewalk. 
After  him,  with  the  wings  of  fear,  flew  John  and  Robin 
son  ;  but  just  before  they  pounced  upon  him  and  swal 
lowed  him  up  in  the  blanket,  the  dean  had  turned  and 
recognized  the  shouting  figure ;  and,  worse  and  worse, 
there,  walking  by  his  side,  was  no  other  than  the  presi 
dent  himself. 

Jack  told  the  story  quite  gayly  that  night,  at  the  sup 
per  table,  to  Captain  Brace. 

"  And  so  they've  got  Jack,  poor  Jack,  up  before  the 
coroner's  committee,"  he  said,  with  a  comical  face. 
"Guess  the  game  is  up.  I  offered  to  bet  the  dean  as 
much  when  he  told  me.  Think  you  Jack  is  cast  down 
thereby  ?  No,  sir,  I  am  a  philosopher.  Who  knows  ? 
Perhaps  it  is  for  the  best.  Really,  now,  I  don't  see  how 
else  I  could  have  escaped  my  debts.  '  It's  an  ill  wind,' 
you  know.  John,  I  consider  this  remarkably  fine  old 
sherry.  Have  the  goodness  to  pass  Jack  the  decanter." 


CHAPTER  XI 

THE  next  morning  John  was  up  with  the  sun,  and 
off  for  a  canter  on  Two  Spot,  leaving  Jack,  a  resolute 
sleeper,  still  rumbling  away  under  a  gorgeous  nightcap 
of  red  and  gold.  When  he  rode  back,  ravenous  for 
breakfast,  a  familiar  sulky  was  moving  before  the  steps, 
and  there  by  the  window,  conversing  with  Captain 
Brace,  was  the  bonny,  round  little  figure  he  knew  so 
well. 

"  What,  what,  John !  "  a  brisk  voice  broke  out  at  his 
entrance,  and  Doctor  Magog,  running  forward,  caught 
him  by  both  hands.  "  At  your  old  tricks,  you  rascal !  " 

"  It  is  an  old  habit,"  said  John,  shaking  hands  in  turn 
with  Captain  Brace,  aware  that  the  doctor  was  measur 
ing  him  with  eyes  of  admiration.  "  You're  over  early 
yourself." 

"  Of  course,  of  course  ;  do  you  suppose  I'd  lose  a  min 
ute,  when  I  knew  you  were  here?"  Doctor  Magog  cried, 
clapping  John  on  the  back ;  but  there  was  a  conscious 
pause,  and  the  young  fellow  looked  a  little  constrained. 
"Well,  well;  a  doctor's  ways,  you  know.  Come  over 
to-day  and  pay  your  respects.  By  the  way,  John,  there's 
a  certain  young  lady  there.  Verbum  sap.,  my  boy." 

"  I'm  not  to  be  tempted,"  John  answered,  with  a  laugh. 
"  There's  my  friend  Hazard,  though,  you  might  try  him." 

"  Who  takes  my  name  in  vain  ?  "  cried  a  voice,  and  a 
black  top  and  sunny  smile  bobbed  out  of  the  doorway. 
"Aha!  You  gentlemen  just  up,  I  perceive.  Heard 

88 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  89 

my  name,  and  came  down  to  defend  my  reputation. 
Who  can  save  us  from  our  friends,  eh,  Captain  Brace  — 
us  men  of  uneasy  conscience,  you  know  ? " 

"  Yes,  yes ;  that's  good,"  Brace  burst  out,  laughing 
hugely. 

"  Doctor  Magrog  ?  —  Ma-gog,  oh  !  Proud  to  know 
you,  sir,"  Jack  cried,  over  the  other's  plump  hand. 
"  My  great-uncle  was  of  your  noble  profession." 

"  Indeed,  I'm  glad  to  know  you,  Mr.  Hazard,"  the 
doctor  exclaimed,  warming  to  him  at  once.  "  You 
must  come  with  John  to  The  Hill.  John  is  a  scoffer, 
but  you,  I  understand,  begad,  are  not  so  insensible  to 
the  charms  of  the  other  sex." 

"  No,  no  —  oh,  lord,  no !  "  Jack  exclaimed,  with  a  look 
of  dismay,  and  a  sidelong  glance  at  his  friend.  "  If 
any  man  has  told  you  that,  he  is  a  villain,  and  he 
lies  in  his  teeth.  It  is  a  slander.  A  young  woman  — 
an  unmarried  one,  Doctor  — puts  me  to  instant  confu 
sion.  I  —  I'm  like  a  fish  out  of  water."  Still  with  an 
indignant  eye  to  John  he  surveyed  himself  in  the 
mirror,  gave  a  satisfied  slap  to  his  chest,  and  added  : 
"  But  I  like  old  women  —  always  do  well  with  them.  I 
remember  once  Briggs  called  the  faculty  a  lot  of  old 
women,  and  my  saying,  '  Wish  the  deuce  they  were ! 
I'd  be  in  clover.'  I  say,  Doctor,  I  have  it.  Let  me 
come  and  see  your  wife.  I  know  we'll  strike  it  up." 

The  others  burst  out  laughing.  "  What  have  I  said  ? " 
cried  Jack,  pirouetting  about.  "  Have  I  offended  any 
one?  If  I  have,  I  ask  his  pardon,  I'm  sure." 

"  Not  at  all,  not  at  all,"  Doctor  Magog  replied,  much 
amused.  "  Come  over,  then,  as  you  choose.  John, 
good  day.  See  you  often.  Ned,  just  a  word  with  you." 

"  Did  I  say  anything  wrong  ? "  asked  Jack,  inno 
cently,  over  the  sausage,  when  the  others  had  left. 


9o  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

"  Oh,  no ;  certainly  not.  You  never  do,"  responded 
John,  raising  his  shoulders  deprecatingly.  He  never  was 
quite  convinced  of  Jack's  ingenuousness.  "  Here,  you 
laggard,  quick  with  your  coffee !  We've  a  good  canter 
to  go  this  morning." 

They  galloped  first  down  the  Bromfield  road  to  the 
old  red  brick  academy,  where  Grimshaw  came  out  and 
shook  them  by  the  hand  —  the  same  "old  Grimes," 
with  his  chop  whiskers,  and  the  deep  eyes  searching  them 
as  though  they  were  his  schoolboys. 

They  halted  a  moment  to  greet  Duff,  now  a  strapping 
fellow  in  leathers,  and  then  rode  on  over  the  fields,  John 
pointing  out  a  dozen  scenes  of  his  boyhood,  and  detailing 
early  escapades.  They  dined  at  the  Bull's  Eye  with  the 
landlord,  Lufkin,  with  whom  Jack  sealed  an  eternal 
friendship,  so  that  at  the  end  Lufkin  actually  got  down 
the  keys  of  the  cellar  and  tipped  them  off  to  a  bottle  of 
'76  sherry,  a  most  unheard-of  generosity.  Jack  was  a 
good  companion  to  travel  with. 

Once  or  twice  a  regret  had  passed  through  John's 
mind  that  he  had  brought  his  friend  to  such  a  home. 
But  Jack  was  one  of  those  delightful  persons  who  never 
notice  what  they  are  not  expected  to  see,  and  John's 
misgiving  soon  wore  away,  under  the  relief  he  ex 
perienced  in  the  company  of  Jack's  good  cheer.  At 
other  times  he  was  gloomy  enough. 

In  how  many  a  home  is  there  to  be  found  one  member 
of  the  household  who  is  never  mentioned,  who  comes 
and  goes  silently,  whose  presence  is  never  noticed, 
whose  absence  is  never  remarked  upon,  whose  entrance 
no  more  disturbs  the  conversation  than  does  the  coming 
of  one's  shadow  when  the  lamp  is  brought  in.  Per 
haps  it  is  a  younger  daughter  who,  the  neighbors 
whisper,  with  a  tap  to  their  foreheads,  is  "not  all 


ARROWS  OF  THE   ALMIGHTY  91 

there  "  ;  or  an  old  lady  who  listens  mute  and  blinking 
from  a  corner  near  the  hearth ;  or  a  poor  relation  who 
leaves  the  room  with  the  children ;  or  a  prodigal  son  ; 
or  a  husband  who  sometimes  appears  coldly  respectful 
to  the  lady  at  the  head  of  the  table. 

Just  such  a  shadow  in  his  own  home  had  Harry 
Gaunt  become.  Nowadays  no  one  ever  rode  up  at 
Windrift  to  pay  a  friendly  call  or  spend  a  night  in 
revelry.  When  the  young  fellows  made  their  bow  at 
the  great  country  houses  no  one  ever  alluded  to  the  elder 
Gaunt.  He  was  never  down  before  dinner —  a  meal  at 
which  the  young  men  were  seldom  present.  At  supper 
he  sat  stooping  and  dumb,  his  hands  trembling  so  that 
at  times  half  the  contents  of  his  glass  would  be  spilled  on 
the  cloth.  These  two  meals  over,  he  passed  completely 
from  sight.  Even  his  own  slaves  forgot  his  presence  : 
he  was  somewhere  gambling  with  Captain  Brace. 

When  a  woman  ceases  to  care  how  she  looks,  or  a 
man  who  has  been  a  gentleman  loses  all  restraint  in  the 
presence  of  his  servants,  the  end  is  not  very  far  off. 
Into  this  last  stage  the  unfortunate  man  had  now 
passed.  He  broke  down  completely  again  and  again 
before  his  slaves,  and  raved  and  shrieked  until,  in  fear 
of  their  lives,  they  scrambled  out  of  the  way  when 
ever  his  lagging  foot  was  heard  on  the  stairs.  Only  in 
the  presence  of  his  son  was  he  silent,  struggling  for 
self-restraint.  But  though  John  constantly  avoided  him, 
each  interview  at  night  served  only  to  swell  the  mortifi 
cation  in  his  soul.  He  too  was  silent  and  uneasy  at  the 
table,  so  that  the  conversation  fell  generally  to  Jack  and 
Captain  Brace,  and,  sometimes,  to  Doctor  Magog,  who 
had  of  late  taken  to  spending  the  night. 

All  these  days  the  doctor's  sharp  eyes  were  watching 
the  young  fellow.  He  knew  well  what  troubled  him. 


92  ARROWS  OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

"  Take  Jack  with  you,"  he  said  to  him  abruptly  one 
morning  foreseeing  what  was  impending.  "  Run  off  for 
two  or  three  weeks  in  the  woods ;  this  lazy  life  doesn't 
agree  with  two  young  fellows  of  spirit." 

John  jumped  at  the  suggestion.  "Just  the  thing !  We 
can  be  off  to-morrow.  We'll  ride  to  Bemis  and  strike 
off  in  a  boat." 

In  the  crisp  of  the  morning  the  horses  were  at  the 
steps  tossing  their  heads,  chafing  to  be  off.  Just  as  the 
sun  rose  over  the  colored  quarters,  Uncle  Israel  finished 
adjusting  the  packs.  Presently  John  came  down  the 
steps  alertly  and  examined  the  bits.  "  Dis  y'here  mare 
am  pow'ful  skittish,  Marse  John,"  the  old  coachman 
said  as  he  strapped  on  the  guns. 

"  The  more  the  better,  Israel."  The  young  master 
slapped  the  sleek  sides,  crying,  "Jack  —  Jack,  you 
laggard ! " 

Down  ran  Jack,  and,  following  more  sedately  behind 
him,  Doctor  Magog,  who  had  come  over  to  lend  them 
his  new  Colt  repeater,  a  superb  and  wonderful  gun. 
Sol  and  Liza  appeared  at  the  window  ready  to  wave 
them  off.  Jonah,  crestfallen  and  longing  to  go,  sulked 
under  the  trees.  John  was  laughing  with  Doctor  Magog, 
pumping  his  hand  in  farewell,  one  foot  in  the  stirrup 
ready  to  spring  up  and  be  off  and  free,  when  — 

"  One  moment,"  a  voice  cried,  and  Captain  Brace, 
appearing,  added,  "John,  it's  your  father  wants  to* see 
you  before  you  go." 

Doctor  Magog  looked  up  quickly.  John,  who  was 
about  to  vault  into  saddle,  wavered,  threw  the  reins 
curtly  to  Israel,  and  came  back  slowly  to  the  house. 
The  spring  had  vanished  from  his  step. 

At  his  father's  door  he  was  forced  to  knock  three 
times  before  he  heard  a  querulous  voice  cry,  "  Come  in, 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  93 

come  in ;  why  don't  you  come  in  ?  Am  I  to  shout  to 
you  all  day  ?  " 

The  young  fellow  shut  his  lips,  and  with  an  effort 
pushed  open  the  door  and  stood  within. 

"  Oh,  it's  you,  John,  is  it  ? "  the  father  began  hastily 
from  the  bed,  "  I  thought  it  was  tfrat-ornery  nigger.  I  — 
I  beg  your  pardon.  Well,  why  don't  you  speak  ?  Don't 
stand  there  staring  at  me;  you  make  me  nervous." 

"  I  am  come  to  say  good-by,"  said  John,  gravely. 

"Good-by —  good-by,  why  do  you  say  good-by? 
You're  not  running  away  from  home,  are  you?  One 
would  think  you  never  expected  to  see  me  again." 

A  premonition  came  to  the  young  fellow  as  he  waited 
there  looking  down  at  the  huddled  figure  on  the  bed, 
the  shaking  hands,  the  pockets  of  flesh  under  the  eyes, — 
eyes  that  never  for  a  moment  met  his, — the  form  yet 
superb  in  its  decay, 

"  Come  closer,  John,"  the  father  began  again,  try 
ing  to  soften  his  voice.  "  Give  me  your  hand  —  there ! 
What  a  man  you  will  make !  I  used  to  be  just  like  you, 
years  ago.  John,  don't  mind  my  trembling  so ;  it's 
nothing.  I'm  going  to  be  up  and  out  soon,  and  then 
I'll  lead  you  a  chase  over  the  country.  I  —  I've  been 
devilish  fond  of  you,  John,  all  my  life.  You've  been 
my  pride  and  joy;  you  know  it,  don't  you?"  He 
stroked  the  hand  he  held  a  moment  silently,  and  then 
added,  almost  inaudibly :  "  You're  all  that's  left  me, 
John  —  all  that's  left.  Tell  me  —  you  still  love  your 
father,  don't  you  ? " 

The  sight  of  the  parent's  emotion  for  a  moment 
swept  before  it  all  other  feelings.  John  bent  down 
suddenly,  put  his  arm  under  the  cramped  figure,  and 
touched  the  forehead  with  his  lips.  Then  the  vision 
of  his  mother  rose  up  before  his  eyes,  and  he  turned 


94  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY     . 

and  fled  downstairs,  deaf   to  the  querulous  voice  that 
called  him. 

Once  in  the  open  air  he  gave  his  hand  silently  to 
Captain  Brace  and  Doctor  Magog,  feeling  in  return 
their  ill-ease,  climbed  into  the  saddle,  and  rode  away. 
That  afternoon  all  Jack's  sunniness  failed  to  drag  a 
smile  from  him. 

Gradually,  a  little  of  the  old-time  love  of  the  tangled 
woods  and  the  free  sky  returned  to  him,  and  something 
of  the  peace  of  the  leafy  silences  stole  into  his  heart. 
For  two  weeks  he  almost  succeeded  in  shaking  off  the 
spell  that  hung  over  him,  but  never  quite ;  for  back  of 
all  the  freedom  of  the  great  blue  days  there  waited 
something  ominous. 

"  And  now,  Jack,  back  to  Bemis,"  he  cried  one  morn 
ing,  no  longer  able  to  withstand  his  anxiety.  "  Pro 
visions  are  running  low,  and  —  well,  I  promised  Doctor 
Magog  I  would,  in  case  of  an  accident." 

"  Back  to  Bemis  it  is,  Captain,"  said  Jack,  jumping  up. 
"  And  I  say — let's  throw  everything  in.  Then,  you  know, 
we  can  strike  out  fresh  —  anyhow,  let's  clear  up,  I  say." 

John,  touched  by  his  friend's  tact,  moved  over  and  laid 
a  hand  on  his  shoulder. 

"  Hello,  what's  in  the  wind  now  ?  "  exclaimed  Jack, 
instantly  shunning  a  crisis. 

"  Jack,  Jack,  will  you  never  be  serious  ?  " 

"Serious  —  what's  the  use,  sir?  I  live  my  life  as 
well  as  another,  I  hope.  I  choose  to  laugh  and  sing  on 
my  way.  What's  the  use  of  being  sad  and  serious  and 
sombre,  Johnnie  Glum;  to  pull  a  long  face  and  say, 
Ah's  me  and  alack-a-day  !  to  sigh  and  groan.  Bur-r-r-t ! 
A  short  life  and  a  merry  one,  there's  my  motto. 
Here,  tumble  into  the  boat,  and  no  more  serious  faces." 


ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY  95 

That  night  they  drifted  under  a  covered  sky  over  the 
quiet  waters,  feeling,  rather  than  seeing,  how  the  sagging 
clouds  oppressed  the  earth.  A  lantern  at  the  bow  swept 
the  banks  with  its  narrow  stream,  piercing  the  tangled 
underbrush,  and  showing  in  the  tree-tops  the  black 
bodies  of  the  startled  buzzards. 

John,  in  the  stern,  softly  dropped  the  guiding  paddle 
in  the  dark  current,  swinging  the  canoe  here  and  there 
to  escape  a  truant  log  or  a  jutting  branch,  while  Jack, 
stretched  out  in  front,  woke  the  echoes  with  his  songs, 
the  canoe  gliding  down  its  whispering  way  to  the 
rhythm  of  the  sweet,  thirj  tenor. 

"  I  say,  Jack,"  began  his  friend  meditatively,  when  the 
last  notes  of  a  gondola  song  had  floated  away,  "  what 
a  difference  the  sky  makes  to  our  feelings.  Last  night 
it  was  clear  as  a  spring ;  and  somehow,  do  you  know,  I 
never  felt  so  happy  in  my  life,  just  lying  under  the 
trees  and  watching  the  moon  working  its  way  through 
the  branches.  And  here  it  is  now,  black  and  sullen, 
not  a  star  to  be  seen  —  it  makes  you  feel  queer,  lonely, 
doesn't  it  ?  You  can't  account  for  it." 

Jack  nodded  sleepily  from  the  bottom.    "  So  it  does." 

"  How  different  a  man  is  at  night,"  continued  John, 
extricating  the  canoe  from  a  mesh  of  bulrushes  into 
which  it  had  rustled  unnoticed.  "  Now  I  never  get  to 
thinking  in  the  daytime  —  I  mean  just  like  this;  some 
how  night's  the  time  for  quiet  —  for  reflection.  Do  you 
know,  Jack,  I  always  keep  looking  up,  wondering  if  the 
clouds  won't  part  for  a  moment  and  let  a  star  shine 
through.  How  far  off  they  are  when  you  look  at  them 
steadily  ;  and  to  think  that  space  never  ends  !  It  is  too 
great  to  understand,  isn't  it  ? "  He  was  silent  a  long  time, 
and  then  he  said  hesitatingly:  "  I  say,  Jack,  I've  some 
thing  serious  to  ask  you.  Do  you  believe  there's  any- 


96  ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

thing  in  heredity  ?  I  mean,  do  you  believe  the  curse 
of  the  father  descends  to  the  son,  even  unto  the  second 
generation,  as  the  Bible  says  ?  Tell  me,  Jack." 

There  was  no  answer. 

"Jack?" 

He  bent  over  cautiously — Jack  was  asleep.  He 
drew  back  slowly,  and  with  a  new  feeling  of  loneliness, 
to  the  company  of  his  own  thoughts.  He  longed  to 
pour  out  his  doubts,  his  questions,  and  his  searchings 
for  a  little  light.  Hungry  and  unsatisfied,  long  into 
the  night,  while  his  friend  slept,  he  guided  the  boat,  his 
ear  starting  at  every  snapping  twig,  his  eye  striving  to 
penetrate  beyond  the  trackless  paths  of  the  lantern. 

At  Bemis  the  first  person  to  meet  them  was  Lufkin 
of  the  Bull's  Eye,  grave  and  anxious.  As  soon  as  John 
saw  his  face,  his  premonitions  returned.' 

"  I  know  what  it  is,"  said  John,  quietly,  taking  his 
hand.  "  When  did  it  happen  ? " 

"  A  week  ago  yesterday,"  answered  Lufkin,  wonder 
ing  at  his  knowledge.  "  I  left  right  after  the  funeral." 

Jack,  divining  the  truth,  turned  his  back  and  walked 
away  to  the  edge  of  the  wharf,  while  John,  hesitating, 
shocked  now  that  it  had  come,  looked  up  and  said :  — 

"  Tell  me  one  thing.  Did  he  know  he  was  going  to 
die?" 

"  Yes,  John." 

"  Did  he  go  —  quietly  ?  " 

"  No,  John." 

"  I  feared  as  much."  The  young  fellow  looked  a 
moment  into  the  other's  eyes,  walked  to  the  edge,  stood 
thoughtfully  looking  down  into  the  lapping  water,  and 
then  called  Jack. 

As  they  came  home  the  lights  were  showing  along 


ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY  97 

the  road ;  only  Windrift  was  swallowed  up  in  the 
night.  They  rode  in  silence  up  the  avenue,  through 
the  black  shadows  of  the  beeches  and  n\aples,  to  the 
steps.  At  John's  shout  several  negroes  came  tum 
bling  from  the  quarters.  He  flung  them  the  reins  and 
went  into  the  hall.  They  had  not  been  expected, 
and  everything  was  in  darkness.  Presently  a  candle 
twinkled  on  the  stairs,  and  Aunt  Liza  shuffled  down, 
crying,  "  Oh,  Marse  John,  is  dat  you,  honey  ?  Oh,  Marse 
John ! " 

"  Hush,"  said  John,  cutting  her  short.  "  I  do  not 
want  to  hear.  Where  is  Captain  Brace  ?  " 

Captain  Brace  was  away  for  a  few  days.  Aunt  Liza, 
wringing  her  hands,  hurried  off  to  light  the  candles  and 
serve  supper.  John  went  up  the  stairs  alone,  taking 
the  candle.  Everything  was  silent,  deserted  —  in  vain 
he  waited  for  the  querulous  voice  at  the  end  of  the 
hall.  Then  slowly  he  moved  down,  and  with  his  fingers 
pressed  open  the  door  of  his  father's  room,  shading 
the  candle  so  that  it  lit  up  the  farthest  corners.  Every 
thing  was  covered  —  the  curtains  down,  the  linen  drawn 
over  the  empty  bed.  He  stood  a  moment  outside. 
He  had  almost  expected  to  see  him.  Then,  without 
entering,  he  slowly  drew  the  door  and  went  downstairs. 

"  Do  not  wait  for  me,  Jack,"  he  said  in  the  hall.  "  I'll 
be  back  presently." 

It  was  a  clear  night.  He  went  into  the  garden,  past 
the  gates  of  the  Via  Dolorosa,  and  down  the  open  sward 
to  the  greenhouse,  thence  sharply  to  the  left  till  he  came 
face  to  face  with  the  little  arch  in  the  wall. 

There  he  stood,  looking  in  at  a  slab  that  shone  newer 
than  the  rest,  but  beyond  he  could  not  go  —  he  had 
never  gone.  Half  an  hour  later  he  started  suddenly 
from  the  side  of  the  arch  where  he  had  been  leaning, 


98  ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

turned  and  went  up  to  the  house,  now  ablaze  with  light. 
There,  all  at  once,  he  stopped,  and  cried  with  a  choking 
voice :  "  I  cannot  understand.  Why  should  he  have 
been  taken  last?" 


CHAPTER  XII 

CAPTAIN  BRACE  did  not  return  for  a  week. 

"I  won't  disguise  from  you,  John,"  he  said  bluffly, 
as  he  took  his  hand,  "that  I  ran  away  for  a  couple 
of  weeks.  Well,  because  I  had  to.  I  was  completely 
used  up.  I'm  not  going  to  tell  you  what  happened; 
what  things  he  said  and  did.  I'm  not  going  to,  by  gad, 
because  such  things  are  too  horrible  to  tell  a  young 
man." 

"  Indeed,  it  is  not  necessary,  sir,"  said  John.  "  I  don't 
wish  to  know ;  I  can  imagine.  I  —  I  have  known  the 
truth  about  my  father  for  a  very  long  while ;  longer 
than  you  suspect,  sir  — for  six  years." 

"What!  "  The  stumpy  figure  whirled  suddenly,  and 
the  sharp  eyes  went  up  to  his  face.  "  You  knew  all  this 
time  —  and  never  told  ?  " 

"  I  kept  it  from  my  mother,"  answered  John,  curtly. 

"  I  thought  she  might  have  told  you,"  the  captain 
said  quickly.  He  walked  to  the  hearth  and  bent  down 
to  straighten  the  logs.  "  Why  !  — did  she  never  say  any 
thing  to  you  —  just  at  the  last  ? " 

"  I  was  only  thirteen,"  said  John,  puzzled  at  the  ques 
tion,  and  at  the  captain's  manner.  "  Of  course,  I  was 
too  young  for  such  a  confidence." 

"  To  be  sure  —  damned  stupid  of  me.  I  beg  your 
pardon,"  cried  Captain  Brace,  coming  forward  briskly 
again.  "  Well,  John,  I  suppose  you're  curious  to  hear 
about  the  will." 

99 


ioo  ARROWS  OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

"  The  will  ?    Certainly  ;  when  was  it  made  ? " 

"Two  days  before  he  died.  Can't  be  any  doubt 
about  it,"  said  Brace,  looking  a  trifle  constrained. 
"What  was  I  saying?  Oh  —  yes.  Everything  goes 
to  you,  of  course,  except  a  few  legacies ;  and  a  mighty 
fine  property  it  is,  my  boy.  Your  father  appointed  me 
his  executor  until  you  come  of  age.  What  a  bad,  hard 
hearted  old  guardian  you've  got,  eh,  John  ?  " 

"  I'll  try  to  stand  it,"  said  John,  laughing  in  turn. 
"  I'll  read  the  will  over  to-night.  Is  there  anything 
more  of  interest  in  it  ? " 

The  captain  exploded  into  peals  of  laughter.  "  Of 
interest  ?  Gad,  yes ;  I  should  say  there  was.  There's 
one  clause  —  he  would  put  it,  though  I  begged  him  not 
to,  and  in  it  went,  for  we  didn't  dare  excite  him.  But 
Lord  bless  you,  John  Gaunt,  we  won't  hear  another 
word  about  that  now  —  it's  so  much  waste  paper." 

"And  what  was  it?"  asked  John,  extremely  puzzled. 

"Oh,  the  clause  —  haven't  I  told  you  yet?  Well, 
John,"  the  captain  began,  throwing  his  head  back 
meditatively,  "  you  know  —  of  course,  you  know  —  your 
father  and  I  played  pretty  steadily.  I  had  to :  it 
was  the  only  thing  that  kept  him  quiet.  Mind  you, 
though,  I  never  took  it  seriously,  for  I  wasn't  staying 
here  to  win  money  from  him,  as  you  know,  and,  damn 
me,  yes,  every  one  else  knows.  We  were  pretty  even 
up  to  about  two  months  ago,  and  then  a  most  devilish 
hard  run  of  luck  set  in,  and  I  won't  disguise  from  you 
that  he  lost  heavily." 

"  And  the  clause  directs  that  these  debts  shall  be 
paid  ? " 

"  Yes,  that  is  what  it  says." 

"  Then  it  must  be  done,"  said  John,  firmly. 

Captain  Brace  walked  over  to  him  and  took  him  by 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  101 

the  shoulder.  "  Now,  look  here,  my  boy,  no  more  such 
nonsense.  It's  all  right  to  pay  when  you're  at  a 
card  party ;  that's  right ;  I  say  nothing  against  that. 
But  this  is  a  matter  between  friends,  and  gambling 
debts  stop  somewhere." 

"  I  understand  fully  the  kindness  of  your  motives, 
sir,"  said  John,  taking  him  up  earnestly;  "but  it  will 
not  do.  A  debt  of  honor  is  the  first  of  debts,  and  I 
direct  you  to  settle  the  amount  at  once.  No,  sir  — 
no,  no,  sir  —  say  no  more.  You'll  only  offend  me 
deeply." 

"John,  I  vow  —  "  began  the  captain,  in  a  high  voice. 

"  No,  no,  I  am  in  earnest,"  John  broke  in,  still  louder. 
"You  will  make  me  very  angry.  See  here,  Captain, 
supposing  it  was  you  who  had  lost ;  what  would  you 
have  done  ? " 

"  That's  different." 

"  No,  answer  me." 

The  captain  shrugged  his  shoulders,  gave  a  quick  laugh, 
and  said  reluctantly  :  "  Well,  let  it  go.  It  shall  be  done 
as  you  say.  Though  I  vow  I  don't  feel  right  about  it." 

"  Not  at  all,"  answered  John,  the  color  still  showing  in 
his  cheeks ;  "  consider  that  settled." 

Captain  Brace  moved  to  the  window  with  another 
protesting  shrug;  then  suddenly  he  came  back  and 
clapped  the  young  fellow  on  the  back,  exclaiming:  — 

"Here,  give  me  your  hand  —  there!  Tell  the  truth, 
John,  I  like  your  spirit.  You're  right,  and,  damn  me, 
that's  what  I'd  have  done  myself." 

John,  very  much  pleased,  shook  hands,  and  said,  "  I 
understand  your  part,  sir." 

"  Until  dinner,  then,  I'm  off  for  a  canter  in  this  glori 
ous  weather."  The  captain  slapped  his  hands  together 
in  the«best  of  humor.  "I'll  be  running  away  on  little 


102  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

trips  now,  John,  more  than  I  used  to,  looking  up  old 
friends.  Of  course,  though  legally  I'm  your  guardian, 
why,  hang  it,  go  ahead  with  repairs  and  improvements 
on  your  own  responsibility.  I'm  glad  to  see  you  taking 
hold  of  the  place.  Just  consider  yourself,  my  boy,  Mr. 
Gaunt,  Master  of  Windrift." 

Captain  Brace  had  called  him  "  Mr."  Gaunt.  It  had 
had  a  strange  sound  to  John  the  day  Lufkin  had  met 
him  with  the  news ;  it  had  pleased  him  when  Joe,  Doctor 
Magog's  man,  had  saluted  him  with  the  title  on  the  day 
following  his  return.  Israel  and  Sol  bent  to  him  with 
increased  respect,  the  household  servants,  the  stable 
boys,  the  farm  hands,  all  stood  deferentially  while  he 
passed.  The  tradesmen  all  solicited  his  patronage;  it 
was  his  judgment  now  before  which  all  matters  on  the 
estate  were  laid  for  settlement. 

"The  king  is  dead,  Jack,"  he  said  musingly,  strolling 
out  with  his  friend  to  inspect  the  sheep,  "  long  live  the 
king.  It  is  terrible  that  a  man  can  die  and  pass  out  of 
my  life  like  that,  and  that  man  be  my  father.  And  yet  his 
life  was  once  all  happiness  and  good  promise.  I  wonder 
how  I  will  end.  Do  you  know,  Jack,  I  sometimes  feel 
that  I  have  his  spirit  —  I  can't  ever  go  into  the  grave 
yard —  think  of  that.  I  —  I  sometimes  wonder  how  it  will 
all  work  out.  Don't  joke,  Jack.  Here  we  are  —  now 
for  the  sheep." 

His  ruminations  were  often  more  sombre.  At  first 
the  death  of  his  father  had  carried  with  it  a  sense  of 
relief.  He  felt  that  the  shadow  was  lifted,  that  his  life 
was  his  own,  that  all  the  rest  would  be  forgotten,  could 
be  forgotten.  He  soon  found  it  was  not  to  be.  That 
gloomy  presence,  that  sombre  reminder,  was  indeed 
gone  —  but  the  shadow  lay  over  all. 

"  What  good  is  life  ?  "  he  would  think  in  his  rambles, 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  103 

often  under  the  stress  of  these  insistent  memories.  "  What 
can  it  offer  me  ?  If  I  should  die  to-morrow,  the  world 
would  not  feel  it  a  jot.  Oh,  for  men  of  genius,  men  of 
action,  it  is  a  wonderful  opportunity ;  but  for  me,  what 
does  it  mean  but  to  be  a  sort  of  a  county  squire  all  my 
days,  a  narrow  little  wheel  in  a  narrow  little  rut  ?  What 
does  it  all  mean,  after  all  ?  Why  will  no  one  talk  to  me 
of  the  things  we  don't  understand  ?  It  seems  to  me  at 
times  as  though  men  feared  to  show  their  true  selves." 

Jack,  who  seldom  could  be  fastened  to  the  serious,  was 
unapproachable.  Captain  Brace  listened  quietly  enough 
as  long  as  the  ardent  young  thinker  chose  to  discourse ; 
but  when  appealed  to  for  his  own  opinions  he  threw  up 
his  hands  and  said :  "  Give  it  up,  too  deep  for  me.  I 
live  my  life  as  long  and  as  hard  as  I  can,  and  when  my 
time  comes  —  why  —  presto!  the  game  is  done — finis!" 

"  Come,  come,  John,  there's  enough  perplexity  in  life  as 
it  is,"  Doctor  Magog  had  said,  when  John  had  cornered 
him  one  night.  "  I  like  to  have  you  talk  to  me,  my 
boy ;  talk  all  you  want.  But  take  my  advice  —  don't  try 
to  unravel  what  is  beyond  you.  Give  up,  lad,  and  be 
happy ;  yes,  by  gad,  be  happy,  if  you  can." 

"  What  is  to  be  happy  ?  to  be  ignorant  ? " 

The  doctor  looked  wise  and  said,  "You  are  only 
nineteen;  wait  and  see !  " 

"Why  won't  men  talk  on  such  subjects?  What  is  it 
that  holds  them  back  ? "  the  eager  young  searcher  asked 
of  himself  after  each  fruitless  attempt;  but  no  answer 
came. 

The  evening  before  Jack  departed  the  two  companions 
sat  up  long  into  the  night,  toasting  their  feet  luxuriously 
before  the  old  brass  andirons.  John,  in  his  new  rdle 
of  custodian  of  the  cellar  keys,  produced  a  bottle  of  the 


io4  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

famous  Orkney  Port,  which  the  two  treated  with  scant 
respect. 

"  I've  given  up  college,  Jack,"  said  John,  brushing 
away  the  cobwebs  from  the  neck  of  the  bottle.  "  Your 
glass,  old  fellow.  I'm  going  to  build  the  place  up  from 
wreck  and  ruin.  You  can't  go  back,  Jack.  Give  me 
your  hand,  and  let's  take  the  world  together.  Make 
your  visit,  and  come  back  for  good.  When  I'm  twenty- 
one  I'll  sell  the  place,  and  we'll  strike  out  West  together. 
You  mean  the  deuce  of  a  lot  to  me,  old  Johnnie  Gay. 
You  cheer  me  up  like  nothing  else.  Think  it  over 
well." 

"  No  need  to  think.  Give  me  your  hand,"  cried 
Jack.  "  There  !  done  !  Why  the  deuce  didn't  you  ask 
me  sooner  ?  I  say,  John,  you  know  how  I  am.  I  laugh 
a  good  deal,  and  I  make  fun  of  things ;  but  I  say,  at 
the  bottom,  I  think  the  world  of  you,  and  I'm  devilish 
lonely  myself,  though  you  don't  know  it.  Shake  again. 
Hello,  good  heavens !  have  mercy  on  that  arm ! "  he 
shouted,  wincing  with  the  momentum  of  John's  hand 
shaking. 

"Jack,"  said  the  delighted  fellow,  "there's  nothing 
in  this  world  like  the  friendship  between  two  men,  is 
there?" 

"  Nothing  at  all,  Solomon,"  announced  Jack,  who  by 
this  time  had  recovered  himself. 

"  How  we  men  do  stick  to  each  other,"  continued  the 
sage,  delighted  to  have  caught  his  attention.  "Jack, 
there's  more  waiting  in  the  bottle.  You  rogue  !  You 
know  good  wine.  Now,  two  women  —  it's  the  first 
man,  you  know,  sends  them  a-flying." 

"  Indeed  and  alas  !     I  know  that  to  my  sorrow." 

"  Now,  Jack,  do  be  serious.  Let's  have  a  good  old 
talk.  Do  you  believe  in  love  ?  I'll  tell  you  flatly,  I 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  105 

don't.  It's  a  delusion,  a  passing  fancy  —  there  are  so 
many  in  life."  John,  standing  legs  apart  before  the 
chimney,  delivered  these  sentiments  with  his  glass  to 
his  bosom.  "  It  comes  and  it  goes.  Look  at  the  Tal- 
bots  and  the  Wellyns,  and  the  Caxtons.  Why,  Jack,  the 
last  was  a  runaway  match.  Look  at  them  now.  Of 
course,  though,  I  suppose  it's  right  we  should  have 
delusions,"  he  interjected  very  soberly.  "  It  carries  on 
the  race.  Still,  friendship  is  the  only  true  basis  of  life. 
Why,  the  world's  just  made  for  two  men  to  travel.  A 
honeymoon?  —  stuff!  Give  me  a  trip  with  you,  Jack, 
any  day." 

Jack,  who  had  hitherto  held  in,  here  burst  out  in  a 
roar  of  laughter.  "  Go  on,  go  on.  Oh,  John,  my  in 
nocent  lamb,  the  wine  is  in  your  head  !  " 

"  Confound  you,  Jack !  "  John  whipped  out,  looking 
discomfited;  for  the  truth  is,  the  wine  had  oiled  his 
tongue.  "You  make  fun  of  everything.  There's  no 
talking  seriously  with  you." 

"  Serious !  My  dear  friend,  I  humbly  beg  your 
pardon,  but  you  are  a  goose,"  and  with  a  crash  Jack 
brought  down  his  legs  which,  in  the  exuberance  of  his 
mirth,  had  been  wavering  in  the  air.  "  No,  no,  John. 
I  prize  your  friendship  beyond  all  else  in  the  world 
—  ahem  —  at  present ;  but  I'm  a  wiser  man  than  you 
are,  if  I  say  it.  As  you  say,  Solomon,  a  man  will  play 
the  deuce  between  two  women.  But  the  immortal 
goddess,  Truth,  compels  me  to  say  to  you,  John  Gaunt, 
that  when  the  inevitable  SHE  does  come,  our  friendship, 
I  grant  you,  will  remain  —  but,  BUT  —  Apologies,  old 
winebibber,  for  calling  your  worship  a  goose,  but  I'll 
bet  you  five  to  one  the  day'll  come  when  you  confess 
it  yourself.  And  now,  come  to  bed —  Benedick  !  " 

Jack  was  not  to  return  for  two  months.      John  forth- 


io6  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

with  took  up  in  earnest  the  matter  of  repairing  the 
estate.  He  mended  the  fences,  repaired  the  avenue, 
cleaned  the  gravel  paths,  and  restored  the  terraces 
to  their  old  lustre.  Guinea  fowl,  turkeys,  geese,  and 
ducks  no  more  ravaged  the  rolling  lawns,  but  cackled 
and  squawked  in  a  neat  poultry-yard.  The  stables  and 
the  pens  and  the  outhouses  fairly  shone  in  their  neat 
ness.  There  was  no  more  sprawling,  loafing,  or  shirk 
ing.  The  garden  —  always  to  him  his  mother's  garden 
—  was  reclaimed.  The  dishevelled  hedges  were  brought 
sharply  to  order;  the  box  was  taught  to  stand  in  un 
broken  smoothness  ;  the  greensward  was  again  purged 
of  chickweed  and  parsley ;  the  trees  were  pruned,  the 
arbors  strengthened,  and  the  vines  guided  to  proper 
paths.  Only  one  change  was  made  —  the  gates  on  the 
Via  Dolorosa  were  taken  down  forever. 

People  liked  to  see  ambition  and  energy  in  a  young 
fellow,  and  offered  him  a  host  of  suggestions  ;  for  all  of 
which  John,  who  would  ride  twenty  miles  to  learn  a  les 
son  or  view  a  new  experiment,  was  profoundly  grateful. 

Doctor  Magog,  trotting  past  one  morning,  spied  the 
young  fellow  in  the  orchards,  and  called  to  him  from  the 
buggy.  "  Hello  !  Farmer  John,  hello  !  What  are  you 
doing  this  fine,  sharp  morning  ?  " 

"Doctor,  I'm  beyond  my  depth,"  said  John,  coming 
up  with  a  troubled  look ;  "  there's  some  sort  of  blight 
on  my  fruit  trees,  and  I  can't  make  it  out.  Recommend 
me  an  authority,  Doctor.  I'm  bound  Windrift  shall 
have  the  first  orchard  in  the  county." 

"  Bless  my  soul !  Run  over  this  moment  and  see  Mr. 
Franklin.  He  is  a  past-master.  Haven't  you  ever  tasted 
his  pears?  Makes  my  mouth  water  to  speak  of  'em." 

"  What,  Uncle  Nim  ?  I've  been  there  fifty  times  and 
never  noticed." 


ARROWS  OF  THE   ALMIGHTY  107 

"  It  depends  how  you  look  at  things,  John." 

"  I'm  off  this  minute,"  cried  John ;  "  a  thousand 
thanks." 

He  called  for  Eli,  a  spirited  steeple-chaser  just  pur 
chased,  and  was  up  and  away  in  a  trice,  all  eagerness. 

At  The  Willows  Daniel,  the  butler,  grinned  to  him  in 
recognition.  John  nodded,  flung  the  reins  to  a  boy,  say 
ing,  "  Here,  Ezra,  look  smart  about  this  horse,  and  take 
good  care  of  him.  Daniel,  tell  Uncle  Nim  I've  dropped 
in  for  dinner  and  to  see  the  orchards ;  I'll  wait  in  the 
parlor.  All  right,  I  know  my  way." 

Into  the  room,  hat  in  hand,  spurs  jingling,  dusty  and 
stained  with  the  long  ride,  flushed  and  rosy,  he  strode, 
straight  to  the  gilt  mirror,  and  stood  before  it,  arranging 
the  disorder  of  his  stock. 

"  Fairly  caught,  sir,"  cried  a  voice,  with  a  ripple  of 
laughter ;  "  caught,  beyond  a  quibble." 

John  swung  about  in  a  flash.  A  slim  figure  in  light 
green  was  standing  by  the  fireplace,  a  hand  on  the  man 
tel,  bending  her  head  against  her  arm. 

"  Welcome,  Cousin  John."  He  saw  a  pair  of  mis 
chievous  black  eyes  as  the  girl  advanced,  and  a  slender 
hand  was  held  up  to  him.  "  I  shall  take  pity  on,  your 
confusion  ;  I  am  Helen  Dare,  cousin  to  Uncle  Nim,  and 
so  cousin  to  you." 

Now,  if  there  was  one  thing  above  another  that  could 
pique  the  lord  and  master  of  Windrift,  it  was  a  charge 
of  embarrassment;  so  he  took  the  proffered  hand 
coolly,  saying,  "  Miss  Dare  ?  Indeed,  I  am  very  glad  to 
meet  you  —  and  if  you  will  excuse  me  a  moment,  I  will 
finish  adjusting  my  stock." 

And  majestically,  with  a  show  of  much  unconcern,  he 
returned  to  the  mirror,  saying  to  himself,  "  Embarrass 
me  !  Humph,  indeed !  " 


io8  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

"And  now,  Miss  Dare,"  he  said,  returning  ("catch 
me  calling  her  cousin"),  "tell  me  how  you  knew  me?" 

The  girl,  who,  it  must  be  confessed,  had  been  watch 
ing  these  manoeuvres  with  secret  delight,  looked  up  with 
a  lingering  twinkle  at  the  tall  figure,  and  with  a  smile 
drew  her  hand  across  her  shoulders,  and  then  raising  it 
to  the  level  of  John's  head,  replied,  with  an  air  of  great 
respect,  "  By  your  shoulders  and  your  height." 

"  Does  she  take  me  for  a  boor,  to  be  won  by  gross 
flattery  ? "  thought  the  young  fellow,  still  cherishing  her 
first  remark,  and  fancying  he  detected  symptoms  of 
levity. 

"  By  that,  I  perceive  two  things,"  he  said  grimly, 
taking  his  seat  opposite,  and  folding  his  arms.  "  First, 
you  are  from  the  city  ;  second,  you  have  been  much  in 
society.  I  myself  —  ahem  —  have  not  lived  all  my  life 
in  Belle  River." 

She  clapped  her  hands  merrily,  and  laughed  outright. 
"  Bravo  !  You're  the  kind  of  man  I  like.  I  have  been 
puzzled  all  these  minutes  how  to  meet  you.  And  now 
let  me  te\\yoti.  two  things."  She  threw  herself  back  in 
the  chair,  crossed  her  arms,  and  said  sternly,  to  counter 
feit  his  attitude.  "  First,  you  are  vexed  because  I 
accused  you  of  being  embarrassed  ;  second,  because 
you  think  I  was  trying  to  flatter  you." 

John  threw  one  leg  over  his  knee  and  looked  at  her 
again.  This  slender  girl,  who  turned  her  face  to  him 
so  impudently,  was  something  very  different  from  the 
plump  Miss  Talbot  of  Brompton,  or  the  three  bouncing 
Wilmerdink  sisters,  or  the  young  ladies  down  the  bay, 
who  had,  up  to  this  time,  constituted  the  narrow  circle 
of  his  female  acquaintance.  Now  John,  though  he  had 
proclaimed  with  much  gusto  his  cosmopolitan  experi 
ence,  was  yet  what  Jack  would  call  "green"  in  such 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  109 

matters.  But  there  are  certain  strong  and  wonderful 
instincts  that  rise  to  aid  in  like  predicaments.  He 
looked  at  her  for  the  third  time,  and  took  her  measure. 

"  I  know  what  is  her  game  —  I  shall  take  care  to 
give  her  as  good  as  she  sends,"  he  assured  himself 
wisely ;  then  he  said  aloud,  with  much  frankness,  "  Right, 
Cousin,  in  both  respects." 

"  Do  you  think  me  a  sorceress  ? "  she  said,  smiling 
at  the  "  cousin." 

"  Perhaps." 

"  Doubter !  Don't  you  know  I  can  forecast  the 
future  and  tell  your  character  by  your  hand  ?  What  ? 
You  want  me  to  ?  Yes  ?  The  left  hand,  please.  You 
are  my  cousin,  you  know,  and  besides,  I  am  a  good 
deal  older  than  you  are.  Then,  too,"  she  added,  with  a 
mischievous  gleam,  "  it  is  excellent  to  break  the  ice." 

In  this  interesting  position  (not  a  novel  one  by  any 
means)  Aunt  Hester  surprised  them,  as  she  came  rus 
tling  in.  "  Ahem,  Helen,"  said  the  old  lady,  shaking 
her  curls  and  settling  the  stiff  skirts. 

Helen  dropped  his  hand  quickly  and  sprang  up  with 
a  very  fine  color. 

"  Good  morning,  Aunt  Hester,"  said  John,  rising 
coolly,  to  make  his  bow.  "  Rode  over  to  see  Uncle 
Nim ;  but  my  luck  is  against  me.  However,  Cousin 
Nell  has  been  good  enough  to  entertain  me  by  telling 
my  fortune.  She  finds  me  obstinate  and  a  trifle  con 
ceited.  At  present  we  are  on  the  line  of  the  affections. 
Sit  down  and  listen."  He  held  out  his  hand  again  and 
actually  forced  Helen  to  continue.  The  sorceress,  in 
the  presence  of  such  a  sharp  third,  was  rather  con 
strained  for  a  lady  of  supernatural  powers. 

The  old  lady's  eyes  twinkled.  John  was  a  past  favor 
ite  of  hers,  and  when  the  chance  came,  she  leaned  over 


no  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

slyly  and  patted  him  on  the  back.  After  dinner,  as 
Uncle  Nim  was  off  for  the  afternoon,  and  another 
visit  would,  of  course,  be  imperative  in  a  matter  of  the 
importance  of  fruit  trees,  John  called  for  his  horse  and 
said  good  evening  to  Aunt  Hester. 

Helen,  who  was  a  great  admirer  'of  horses,  and 
must,  of  course,  examine  Eli,  accompanied  him  to  the 
block. 

"  Until  to-morrow,"  she  said  in  a  low  voice,  accom 
panied  with  a  killing  glance.  "You  have  turned  the 
tables  on  me  cruelly.  I  foresee  we  shall  quarrel." 

"  War  is  sometimes  the  safest,"  announced  a  very 
experienced  young  man,  nodding  sagely.  "This,  you 
see,  is  the  first  skirmish." 

"  War  be  it,  then !  Good-by.  To-day  the  honors 
are  all  with  you." 

He  waved  his  hat,  and  then  broke  into  a  laugh,  for 
the  truth  was,  Aunt  Hester  was  shaking  a  warning 
finger  to  him  behind  Nell's  back.  Another  wave,  and 
Eli  sprang  into  a  run  against  the  rising  wind. 

"  It's  deuced  lucky,"  said  this  experienced  young 
man  to  his  steed,  "that  I  have  a  steady  head  on  my 
shoulders.  How  she  did  try  to  flatter  me  !  Now  that 
last  about  the  honors  being  mine  was  right  smartly 
aimed,  but,  Eli,  old  fellow,  we  saw  the  shaft  in  time." 

At  this  moment  Eli  shied  at  a  neat  little  gig. 

"  Hello,  Uncle  Nim!  "  John  shouted  across  the  wind, 
as  he  gathered  in  the  reins ;  "  been  over  to  see  you. 
Coming  in  to-morrow  —  want  to  get  advice  —  fruit  trees, 
fruit  trees ! " 

"  Eh,  what's  that  ? "  drawled  out  the  driver,  and  a 
quantity  of  straggling  gray  whiskers  appeared  around 
the  corner  of  the  flap.  "Yes,  yes,  come  to-morrow 
sure.  See  Nell  ? " 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  in 

"  Saw  ?  —  dined  with  her." 

"  Look  out  for  her,"  shouted  the  other,  shaking  his 
head;  "she's  —  cute  —  country  boys.  John,  take  — 
advice." 

"  All  right,  Uncle.  Whoa !  —  whoa !  —  it's  —  whoa ! 
it's  already  —  whoa !  —  "  but  Eli  was  no  longer  to  be 
detained,  and  darted  off. 

"  Don't  go  and  try  any  of  your  tricks  on  him,  Nell," 
said  Aunt  Hester,  when  they  had  returned  to  the 
house.  "  He's  too  fine  a  man  to  be  played  with,  young 
lady." 

"  Nonsense,  Aunt.  Cousin  John  is  already  up  in 
arms  against  me." 

"  Humph  !  "  the  old  lady  vouchsafed,  drawing  back. 
"  Who  knows  ?  Maybe  John  Gaunt  is  more  than  your 
match.  He  had  all  the  best  of  it  this  morning.  You 
needn't  look  so  sure,  Missy.  It's  my  opinion  you  couldn't 
get  him  if  you  tried,"  and  with  a  bob  of  her  curls  she 
was  gone  from  the  room. 

Nell  went  slowly  to  the  window,  and  stood  looking 
out  for  a  long  time.  When  she  turned,  she  came  back 
pensively,  and  halted  before  the  mirror.  "  Perhaps  !  " 
she  said  at  length,  breaking  into  a  smile,  and  nodding 
mysteriously  to  a  very  bright  reflection. 


CHAPTER    XIII 

AMONG  the  institutions  with  which  the  country  of  the 
great  Napoleon  has  become  identified,  is  the  manage 
de  convenance.  The  parents  of  Adolphe,  having  deter 
mined  that  promising  young  man  to  be  in  a  marriage 
able  condition,  proceed  forthwith  to  cast  about  for  their 
future  daughter-in-law.  The  search  is  pursued  in  a 
methodical  and  businesslike  manner. 

"  See  you,  Henri,"  says  Madame  la  mere,  over  the 
counterpanes,  "  it  is  necessary  that  we  should  exercise 
the  greatest  pains  in  this  so  delicate  of  matters.  We 
must  see  that  the  wife  of  Adolphe  shall  be  a  woman  of 
gentle  disposition.  The  good  child,  with  all  his  virtues, 
inherits  greatly  of  your  temper  and  excitability.  Mon 
sieur  Henri,  I  shall  look  to  the  matter  of  temperament." 

"  La !  la !  la !  "  retorts  Monsieur  le  pere,  shivering 
over  a  sulky  fire.  "  What  foolishness  are  you  talking  ? 
Look  to  the  pocket.  He  is  spendthrift  —  like  thee, 
Angelique.  Money  glides  through  his  fingers.  Search 
for  the  wife  of  economy,  and,  dame!  of  sufficient 
dot ! " 

And  the  industrious  couple  begin  their  hunt  for  the 
proper  young  woman,  much  after  the  manner  in  which 
the  father,  the  month  before,  attended  to  the  purchase 
of  a  suitable  family  mare,  consulting  with  the  best 
authorities,  lest  there  should  be  a  hidden  blemish. 

Naturally  enough,  monsieur  makes  no  mention  of 
that  weakness  of  temper,  and  Angelique  fails  to  allude 

112 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  113 

to  the  subject  of  youthful  extravagances  :  all  that  is  for 
the  other  party  to  the  bargain  to  discover.  The  theory 
is,  of  course,  that  the  parents,  who  know  these  little 
faults  of  character,  are  better  qualified  to  obtain  the 
necessary  remedy  than  Adolphe,  who,  until  fifteen,  has 
gone  to  school  with  a  nurse,  or  Virginie,  who,  since  she 
has  been  liberated  from  her  convent,  has  not  said  ten 
words  to  a  man  outside  the  range  of  her  mamma.  Natu 
rally  mistakes  will  happen,  and  sharp  dealings  will  occur. 
The  parents  of  Virginie  will  awake  to  the  fact  that 
their  darling's  husband  is  a  brute  for  temper  and  a 
prodigal  for  money  —  but  is  not  the  same  true  of  many 
a  bargain  in  horse-flesh  ?  Was  there  ever  a  swap  ef 
fected  to  the  satisfaction  of  both  parties  ?  Certainly  all 
systems  must  have  their  drawbacks ;  so  has  the  French. 

In  this  country  of  independence  the  matter  is  left  in 
the  hands  of  the  parties  most  interested.  Consequently 
a  knowledge  of  tt\Q  genus  masculinum  and  of  the  etiquette 
of  all  functions  is  absolutely  essential  to  any  young  lady 
of  aspirations.  The  more  the  experience  and  the  greater 
the  acquaintance  with  the  habits  and  peculiarities  of  the 
animal,  the  more  certain  it  is  that  she  will  be  able  to  pick 
the  favorite,  and  having  so  recognized  him,  can  clinch 
the  bargain  without  unnecessary  delays.  Not  that  such 
ideas  are  ever  consciously  entertained.  Not  at  all  — 
they  are  part  of  the  great  underlying  instincts  of  hu 
man  nature.  And  as  it  boots  little  to  find  what  you 
want  if  you  cannot  secure  it,  is  it  at  all  surprising  that 
each  should  be  anxious  to  test  her  skill  ? 

Here,  too,  mistakes  will  occur.  The  clown  is  too 
often  mistaken  for  the  prince ;  all  the  more  need,  then, 
of  caution  and  experience.  Too  many,  tired  of  long 
waiting,  affect  to  believe  in  disguises,  and  try  each  new 
comer  as  though  to  penetrate  the  mask. 


n4  ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

Of  this  class  was  Helen  Dare.  She  never  met  a  man 
of  whom  she  did  not  at  once  have  "  a  premonition,"  nor 
retained  that  premonition  beyond  a  month,  at  the  most. 
She  kept  a  diary,  in  which  were  revealed  her  innermost 
thoughts  —  the  tragedies,  the  sorrows,  and  the  conquests 
of  her  maiden  existence.  So,  on  the  night  of  her  meet 
ing  with  John,  she  seated  herself  at  a  neat  little  desk, 
attired  in  a  dainty  dressing-gown ;  set  free  with  three 
shakes  of  her  head  a  tangled  mass  of  tumbling  black 
curls ;  sent  an  appealing  glance  to  the  staid  cheval 
glass  opposite ;  plunged  into  the  drawer,  and  drew  out 
her  diary  and  made  this  entry  :  — 

"  Met  to-day  my  third  cousin,  John  Gaunt.  A  striking  individu 
ality,  with  the  finest  square  shoulders  I  have  ever  seen.  Ordinarily 
taciturn,  never  says  more  than  is  necessary.  Sensitive  to  his  own 
importance,  rather  suspicious  of  flattery,  but  can  be  reached,  all  the 
same.  Strong  will,  and  a  steady  way  of  looking  at  you  as  he 
speaks.  Would  be  very  attractive  to  any  woman.  Fine  self- 
control  ;  but  I  think  behind  it  all  there  is  a  great  tragedy.  A  man 
born  to  lead.  There  is  a  very  noble  look  in  his  eyes  and,  though  I 
know  if  he  once  made  up  his  mind  nothing  would  stop  him,  I  am 
sure  his  end  would  always  be  high.  He  has  great  reserve  force  — 
the  kind  of  a  man  a  woman  would  develop  wonderfully.  Am  I 
going  to  fall  in  love  with  him  ?  Maybe  ;  I  don't  know.  Somehow, 
to-night,  I  have  the  strongest  premonition  ..." 

She  broke  off  the  sentence,  and  leaning  back,  placed 
the  tip  of  her  quill  against  her  lips.  Suddenly  she 
brushed  back  the  fallen  tresses  and  began  to  laugh. 
"  Come,  let  me  see,"  she  said  musingly ;  "just  how  often 
have  I  felt  the  same  ? " 

She  picked  up  the  diary  and  began  to  skim.  In  a 
moment  appeared  a  twitching  of  the  lips,  a  frown,  a 
smile,  finally  an  open  laugh.  "  Mon  Dieu,  taut  que 
cela  ? "  And  she  bundled  up  the  sorrows  and  the  con 
quests,  tossed  the  book  impatiently  into  the  desk,  made 


ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY  115 

a  face  in  the  mirror,  cried,  "Goose!"  with  a  shrug  of 
the  white  shoulders,  and  retired  for  the  night. 

"  Well,  Nell,"  Uncle  Nim  began  in  his  drawling  way, 
over  the  ham  and  muffins,  "so  you've  —  an  —  been 
a-makin'  up  to  John,  eh  ? " 

"  What,"  said  Miss  Innocence,  "  that  boy !  Indeed, 
no.  I  thought  him  right  conceited." 

"John?  No,  Nell,  no!  Why  do  you  say  that? 
He's  a  fine  young  fellow,  open  and,  ah  —  straight 
forward." 

"  Well,  stupid,  then  ;  he  hadn't  two  words  to  say." 

"  Reckon  you  didn't  try  him  on  horses  and  ah  —  hun- 
tin',  then?" 

"Horses!     Is  that  all?" 

"  Well,  now,  he  can  talk  you  philosophy,  too,  Nell," 
went  on  Uncle  Nim.  "  He's  puzzled  us  all  here  with 
his  questions.  Maybe,  ah  —  now,  he'd  be  a  little  too 
deep  for  even  you,  Nell.  He's  read  a  lot,  and  thought  a 
lot.  I,  ah  —  just  mentioned  horses,  Nell  —  because  —  " 
added  the  old  tease  —  "  well,  now,  because  I  thought  it 
would  be  easier,  ah  —  for  you." 

"Oh,  he  is  a  philosopher?  Say  outright  a  bore. 
Why,  didn't  some  one  tell  me — wasn't  it  Aunt  Hester 
or  Mrs.  Claversham  —  something  about  a  fight  he  once 
had  ?  Think  of  a  philosopher  fighting ! " 

The  old  fellow  broke  into  the  history  of  John  vs. 
Duff.  She  protested  she  had  no  desire  to  listen  to  the 
story  of  a  stupid  boyish  squabble. 

"  But  you  shall,"  insisted  Uncle  Nim,  now  aroused ; 
and  he  proceeded  to  detail  the  episodes  of  that  en 
counter,  until,  warming  up  (in  no  small  measure  piqued 
by  her  indifference),  he  branched  off  into  a  long  account 
of  John's  characteristics. 


n6  ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

"  What  are  you  two  doing  ? "  Aunt  Hester  inquired, 
returning  from  the  negro  quarters. 

"I've  been  —  a-tellin'  —  Nell —  "  Uncle  Nim  began, 
drawling. 

"  Oh,  we've  been  quarrelling  again,"  interposed  Nell, 
jumping  up,  "and  as  he  is  getting  the  best  of  me,  I'll 
run  away." 

She  said  good  night  and  tripped  upstairs,  leaving 
Aunt  Hester  to  bustle  about,  silently  arranging  the  cur 
tains  for  the  night. 

"  Now  what's  the  matter  with  Nell,  here  ?  "  began 
Uncle  Nim,  stroking  his  silky  beard  ;  "  she  seems  to 
have  set  herself  against  John." 

"  Nimrod  Franklin  !     Have  you  eyes  in  your  head  ?  " 

"  Eh,,what's  that  ?  —  what's  that  ?  " 

"  And  you  can't  see  how  matters  stand  ?  " 

"  Eh,  no,  no  —  you  don't  —  pshaw  !  —  well,  I  declare ! " 

"And  so  she's  been  pumping  you,  has  she  ?  "  Aunt 
Hester  said,  planting  herself  in  great  indignation  before 
his  knees.  "  Pulling  wool  over  your  eyes  ?  Nimrod 
Franklin,  I'd  be  ashamed  of  myself!  " 

"Well — I  reckon  now  —  come  to  think  of  it  —  she's 
been  doin'  jest  that.  I  reckon  I've  been  right  thick 
headed.  Reckon  you  could  have  done  the  same,  many 
a  time,"  he  added,  the  old  rascal,  pulling  her  down  to 
his  cheek,  "  if  you  hadn't  been  above  such  things  —  eh, 
Hester  ? " 

"  Humph  ! "  exclaimed  the  partner  of  his  secrets,  with 
a  twinkle  of  satisfaction.  "  It's  time  you  were  locking 
up,  Nimmie." 

The  next  morning  when  the  sun,  that  indefatigable 
summoner,  had  roused  the  world,  Miss  Helen  Dare 
sprang  up,  eager  for  the  game  to  begin,  as  keen  as 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  117 

the  fisherman  already  whipping  the  stream,  or  the 
hunters  closing  in  on  their  quarry.  She  had  a  sport 
worth  all  of  these.  On  the  desk  (where  was  confined 
the  neglected  diary)  lay  a  letter  which  she  had  penned 
the  previous  day,  when  she  was  dying  of  ennui,  accept 
ing  an  invitation  to  visit  a  bosom  friend,  jumping  at  the 
chance  to  leave  the  dull  country  existence.  Her  eye 
now  fell  on  the  letter.  She  caught  it  up  with  a  laugh, 
and  tore  it  into  shreds.  Instead,  she  scratched  off, 
rapidly  :  — 

"  MY  DEAREST  ROSALIE  :  — 

"  Conceive  of  my  delight  and  joy  when  I  received  your  sweetest 
letter.  I  am  desolee  —  I  cannot  come.  If  you  only  knew  how  I  was 
tempted  !  I  had  actually  written  you  accepting,  before  I  listened  to 
my  conscience.  Oh,  what  a  dreadful  thing  it  is  to  have  a  con 
science  !  Mine  is  always  at  my  heels.  You  know,  dear,  that  I  am 
here  for  my  health,  and  I  have  made  the  most  solemn  promises  to 
take  the  strictest  care  of  myself.  Dear  mother  has  worried  over  me 
so  !  How  I  wish  I  could  come  !  It  is  so  stupid  here  —  nothing  but 
the  air.  But  conscience,  conscience,  conscience  says  no  ! " 

She  started  to  write  "  My  cousin,"  and  then  shook  her 
head.  "  No,  that  will  never  do !  "  So  she  sent  her  heart 
and  an  immense  measure  of  love,  and  wound  up  with  a 
flourished,  "  Your  affectionate  and  lonely  Nell." 

At  Miss  Chiever's  Select  Home  for  Young  Ladies, 
where  Helen  had  held  sway,  she  used  to  write  the  letters 
for  the  whole  house.  Fanny  would  beg  of  her  a  letter  to 
condole  on  the  death  of  a  great-uncle,  Florence  an  ac 
ceptance  to  an  invitation  to  visit,  Emelia  (very  young)  a 
delicate  reply  to  a  confidential  note  just  smuggled  in; 
and  the  indefatigable  Nell  would  plump  down  and  dash 
them  off  in  a  trice,  after  which  they  would  be  handed 
about,  admired,  and  sent  on  their  way. 

"  There ! "  mused  the   young  lady  with  a  finger  to 


n8  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

her  lips.  "  I  suppose  Rosalie  will  suspect ;  but  then,  she 
always  does,  whether  there  is  a  cause  or  not." 

She  flung  open  the  blinds.  How  crisp  and  green 
the  vista  looked !  Everything  pleased  her :  the  pic 
turesque  long  avenues,  the  waving  poplars,  the  cattle- 
dotted  meadows,  the  fresh  scent  of  honeysuckle,  and 
the  peep  of  distant  waters. 

"  What  can  the  city  offer  to  compare  with  this  !  "  she 
cried,  clapping  her  hands  in  pure  delight.  She  danced 
to  the  window  again,  and  courtesied  mockingly  to  the 
fresh  lustre  of  the  morning.  "  He's  coming,  he's  com 
ing!  If  I  do  say  it  —  how  a  man  does  change  the 
whole  world ! "  and  with  a  quick  toilette  she  went 
demurely  down  the  stairs. 

"  And  now,"  she  reflected,  when  the  meal  was  over, 
and  she  was  again  in  her  room,  "  to  prepare  for  the 
battle.  I  must  be  careful.  I  began  wrong  —  he  is  not 
a  boy.  I  must  be  reserved  and  dignified.  He  is  on 
the  lookout  for  flattery,  is  he  ?  Ho,  ho  !  Show  me  the 
man  who  can't  be  flattered.  But  there  are  other  ways 
besides  compliments.  Who  knows  but,  after  all,  unwit 
tingly  I  may  have  begun  for  the  best.  Now  what  shall 
I  wear  ?  He  is  a  philosopher,  is  he  ?  Men  never 
notice  except  when  we  are  badly  dressed.  There  is  the 
changeable  green  silk  from  Stewart's  —  my  color,  too ;  or 
shall  it  be  the  blue  ?  He  is  not  to  be  caught  by  vulgar 
tricks.  Perhaps  the  muslin  with  the  bonnet  would  be 
best.  I  must  reach  his  confidence.  There  !  I  have  it 
— I  will  wear  the  green." 

She  slipped  a  rose  behind  her  curls  —  a  red  rose  that 
gave  color  to  her  face  —  and  did  her  hair  with  her  very 
best  ribbon.  A  visit  to  the  jewelry  tray  resulted  in  the 
selection  of  the  proper  cameo  brooch,  a  dainty  topaz 
bracelet,  and  her  finest  handkerchief  and  ring.  It  took 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  119 

her  a  full  ten  minutes  to  decide  which  shawl  should 
have  the  preference. 

"These  mantillas  are  lovely,"  she  thought,  hesitat 
ing,  "  but  I  think  I  will  take  the  black  —  yes,  I  will 
take  the  black ;  my  throat  does  look  so  well  against  it. 
Finis  !  And  now  for  the  effect." 

She  tripped  before  the  mirror  and  burst  into  an 
exclamation  of  delight.  A  mocking-bird  was  carolling 
from  a  branch  that  swung  across  her  window :  she 
turned,  and  blew  him  a  kiss.  Indeed,  she  looked  very 
pretty  courtesying  there  in  the  dainty  changing  green 
silk,  bare  at  the  throat  and  arms,  her  eyes  sparkling 
under  the  cluster  of  black  curls  that  held  the  rose. 
Could  it  have  been  only  the  thought  of  possible  puddles 
that  made  her  put  her  hands  demurely  to  the  sides  of 
her  bulging  skirt  and  draw  them  up  just  enough  to 
show  a  tiny  slipper  and  the  white  peep  of  an  embroid 
ered  stocking?  Still  pursuing  her  mischievous  mood, 
she  kicked  off  a  slipper  and  laughed  down,  bubbling 
over  with  fun,  at  the  arched  instep. 

"  I  wonder  how  I  shall  look  when  he  sees  me,"  she 
said,  pensively  dropping  her  skirts.  "  I  never  can 
decide  which  is  my  best  profile  —  or  whether  that  is 
better  than  my  full  face.  Voyons  ! "  So  saying,  she 
turned  on  her  heel  and  walked  away,  glancing  back, 
first  over  one  shoulder  and  then  over  the  other,  and 
returning  full  in  front  of  the  mirror,  she  dropped 
it  a  deep  courtesy.  All  at  once  she  burst  into  a 
laugh. 

"  What  a  little  goose  !  If  any  one  should  catch  me, 
boo !  Oh,  but  it  is  good,  good,  good,  to  be  young  and 
pretty !  "  Then  her  mood  went  like  the  fading  out  of 
a  rainbow,  and  looking  into  her  own  eyes  very  soberly, 
she  added,  "  And  what  of  thirty  ?  At  thirty  —  heigho ! " 


120  ARROWS  OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

She  threw  her  hands  up  in  the  air,  snapping  her 
fingers  over  her  head.  Then  as  she  ran  to  the  door, 
she  stopped,  her  hand  on  the  knob,  tapped  her  foot, 
and  frowned.  Then  she  returned,  half  crying,  "  Oh  no, 
no,  this  will  never  do.  What  a  fearful  blunder!  He 
will  know  I  have  dressed  for  him  —  terrible,  terrible  ! 
Whereupon  she  threw  off  the  gown,  flinging  it  aside 
heedlessly,  seized  a  simple  white  muslin  figured  with 
roses,  slipped  into  it,  and  buried  her  curls  under  a  bon 
net.  At  the  door  she  again  hesitated ;  then,  returning, 
she  held  the  black  mantilla  up  to  her  throat,  saying, 
"Well,  yes,  just  this,  then;  it  is  so  becoming!"  and 
yielded  to  the  temptation.  Then,  laughing  at  her  own 
weakness,  she  went  singing  down  the  stairs. 

On  and  on  fled  Eli.  Oh,  what  a  fever  was  burning 
in  the  young  master's  brain !  As  a  spirited  horse 
neighs  and  throws  its  head  at  the  scent  of  battle,  or  a 
hound  breaks  against  the  leash  on  the  morning  of  the 
hunt,  so  impatience  was  coursing  in  his  veins.  The 
great  instinct  of  man  was  aflame  within  him,  the  instinct 
to  win.  He  was  happy,  confident,  eager,  elate.  At  the 
second  gate  he  looked  for  Nell,  and  again  in  vain  on 
the  veranda.  Uncle  Nim,  shaking  him  by  the  hand, 
informed  him  of  her  whereabouts. 

"  In  the  garden,  all  right  —  back,  right  away,"  John 
cried,  with  a  bluff  affectation  of  unconcern ;  "  then  for 
the  orchards." 

Down  the  gravel  he  strode,  and  stopped.  She  was 
coming  daintily  toward  him,  over  the  damp  ground, 
lifting  her  skirts  airily  at  either  side  —  a  figure  of  float 
ing  white  and  pink. 

"  Good  morning,  Cousin  ; "  the  small  hand  was  held 
out  and  the  dark  eyes  were  lifted  quietly  from  under 


ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY  121 

the  bonnet.  "  You  are  early.  Were  you  up  with  the 
dawn?" 

"  I  was,"  answered  the  big,  frank  voice.  "  I  had  much 
to  do.  I  have  come  to  take  you  with  us  to  the  orchards, 
as  I  promised." 

Helen  smiled.  "  So  you  did ;  I  had  forgotten.  But 
never  mind,  I  am  going  to  let  you  off.  I  am  going  to 
drive  over  to  the  Clavershams'  for  dinner."  She  looked 
up  sharply.  His  face  became  blank.  He  had  not  yet 
learned  to  conceal. 

"  Come,"  she  said,  pursuing  her  advantage,  "  I  am 
going  to  say  something  to  you.  I  did  not  know  yester 
day  how  old  you  are.  You  must  not  think  me  un- 
maidenly  for  the  way  I  acted — " 

John  was  too  puzzled  at  this  handling  of  his  nineteen 
years  to  answer;  he  was  also  annoyed  at  the  slighting 
of  his  plans. 

"And  now  we  understand  each  other  better,"  she 
resumed.  She  had  made  her  explanation  steadily,  with 
out  a  trace  of  embarrassment.  "  We  shall  be  very  good 
friends,  I  know ;  and  no  more  of  this  foolish  talk  of  war 
and  skirmishes,  which  I  hope  you  won't  be  offended  if  I 
tell  you  has  only  too  often  led  to  most  serious  conse 
quences.  You  understand  what  I  mean,  don't  you  ? 
And  now  I  am  off.  I  shall  be  back  soon  after  dinner, 
and  then  we  will  have  a  nice  talk  together.  Good-by, 
Cousin  John." 

In  the  early  afternoon  Cephas  and  the  team  came 
prancing  back.  Out  ran  Daniel  to  serve  the  door, 
while  Aunt  Hester,  rocking  on  the  veranda,  looked  up 
sharply  over  her  knitting,  as  Helen,  who  had  been 
drumming  all  the  while  on  the  back  of  her  seat,  alighted 
and  carelessly  searched  about. 


122  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

"What  are  you  looking  for,  child?"  asked  the  old 
lady;  "John?" 

"John?  No;  is  he  still  here  ?"  said  Helen,  with  a 
glance  toward  the  orchard. 

"  He  left  right  after  dinner,"  answered  the  old  lady, 
softly,  fixing  her  sharp  eyes  on  the  girl's  face. 


CHAPTER  XIV 

"  WAIT  !  "  said  Helen  sagely  to  herself,  as  she  climbed 
the  stairs  ;  "  I  know  men.  He  will  make  an  excuse.  He 
will  come  to-morrow."  But  neither  that  day  nor  the 
next,  as  she  swept  the  front  lawn  with  mincing  step, 
glancing  carelessly  at  each  turn  down  the  far  avenue, 
neither  that  day  nor  the  next  did  the  desired  speck 
loom  up  on  her  horizon.  Though  she  went  to  bed  each 
night  without  even  a  glance  into  her  mirror,  and  took 
not  the  slightest  notice  of  her  diary,  outwardly  she  was 
in  the  most  amiable  of  spirits.  She  read  all  the  morn 
ing  out  of  "  The  Pilgrim's  Progress "  to  Aunt  Hester, 
and  played  long  sleepy  games  of  cribbage  with  Uncle 
Nim,  so  that  the  shrewd  fellow  announced  that  it  was 
all  nonsense  about  Helen  setting  her  cap  for  John — a 
judgment  set  aside  by  the  superior  court  with  contempt 
and  silence. 

On  the  fourth  morning  Helen  pronounced  for  a  ride, 
and  away  she  went  on  the  big  roan,  refusing  an  escort, 
with  only  Sir  Walter,  the  greyhound,  bounding  at  her 
side.  At  the  crossroads,  after  two  false  starts,  she  chose 
the  post  that  read  "  Belle  River,  12  miles." 

"  Since  I  am  out  for  a  gallop,  why  not  this  as  well  as 
the  other  ?  "  she  reasoned.  "  What  a  splendid  seat  he 
has  !  I  wonder  if  he  rides  in  the  mornings." 

Thereafter  she  rode  on  timidly,  past  the  harvest  fields 
where  the  negroes  were  singing  as  they  toiled ;  often 
checking  her  horse  as  though  to  turn,  so  that  Sir  Walter 

123 


124  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

was  constantly  trotting  back  to  inquire  the  meaning  of 
these  sudden  halts.  The  roan  had  just  made  the  curve 
out  of  the  Caxton  woods  when  she  caught  sight  of  a 
well-known  figure  on  the  road  ahead,  galloping  break 
neck  toward  her.  She  pulled  in  the  roan,  throwing  him 
back  on  his  haunches,  the  instinct  of  flight  rushing  over 
her ;  for  almost  the  first  time  in  her  life  she  was  covered 
with  confusion. 

"  Heavens  —  what  will  he  think  ?  Oh,  why  did  I 
come  ?  No,  no,  that  will  never  do,  he  has  seen  me.  I 
must  ride  on."  She  urged  on  the  roan,  calling  -out 
gayly  when  at  last  he  reined  up,  bareheaded,  at  her 
side.  "  Well  met,  Cousin  John.  Where  away  this  splen 
did  morning  ? '' 

He  bowed  and  replaced  his  hat.  "  Good  morning, 
Cousin.  To  — to  the  Talbots  for  information  on  — 
guess  what  —  turnips !  " 

"  Little  fool  that  I  am,"  thought  Helen  to  herself, 
noticing  the  hitch,  "  why  didn't  I  wait  ?  He  was  coming 
to  see  me.  Never  mind,  I  must  pretend  to  believe  him." 

Sir  Walter,  called  back,  led  the  way,  romping  before 
the  horses.  Helen,  in  black  habit,  with  two  long  plumes 
dangling  over  one  shoulder,  and  curls  flying  in  the 
breeze,  looked  over  curiously  and  said :  — 

"  Have  you  come  straight  from  Belle  River  ?  I 
thought  this  road  went  to  Bromfield." 

"You  didn't  know?"  he  answered  with  a  twinkle; 
"well,  you  go  through  Bromfield  first  to  Belle  River, 
you  know." 

"  Oh,  indeed !  What  a  glorious  creature  Eli  is !  You 
must  ride  beside  him  to  appreciate  him." 

"  Indeed  you  must,  Cousin.  You  should  see  him 
take  a  fence." 

"  I  should  like  to  see  him,"  said  a  happy  voice ;  for 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  1*5 

the  joy  of  the  sport  had  come  back  to  her,  now  that  she 
had  John  at  her  side  once  more.  "  And,  sir,  I  should 
like  to  see  you.  Will  he  take  anything  ? " 

"  Anything  I  put  him  to." 

They  were  now  out  of  the  woods. 

"  Even  that  ? "  asked  Nell,  with  a  flourish  of  her  whip  ; 
"  that  fence  with  the  ditch  beyond  ?  Any  horse  might 
balk  at  that." 

"  But  not  Eli.  Come  on,  Cousin !  "  He  jumped  the 
low  stone  wall,  Nell  following.  The  fence  lay  at  the  end 
of  the  smooth  pasture,  with  a  run  of  a  hundred  yards. 

"  Now  watch  him,"  shouted  John,  eagerly ;  for  to 
attempt  something  just  a  little  beyond  every  one  else 
always  set  his  eyes  to  blazing.  "  Hi !  " 

Away  sped  Eli  over  the  strong,  even  turf  —  away  and 
up  and  over. 

"A  splendid  jump !  "  cried  Nell,  her  face  aglow  as  he 
came  prancing  up.  The  flattery  reached  him,  for  it 
was  sincere.  "  But  a  very  risky  one,  and  a  very  close 
one,  Cousin.  He  clicked  the  top  rail." 

"  What ! "  exclaimed  the  madcap,  his  head  turned 
with  the  zest  of  daring.  "  Then  over  he  shall  go  until 
he  takes  it  clear." 

She  did  not  call  to  him  or  remonstrate.  She  sat  and 
waited  quietly  while  he  made  good  his  promise.  As  he 
trotted  back,  bending  over  the  frisking  horse,  patting 
his  neck  and  whispering  in  his  ear,  Helen  said  noth 
ing  for  a  while,  but  sat  staring  steadily  at  the  hazard. 
Presently  she  turned  toward  him  with  a  flush  on  her 
cheek. 

"  See  this  roan,  Cousin,"  she  cried  impetuously ;  "  he 
is  a  thoroughbred.  What  do  you  say  of  him  ?  " 

"  None  better  in  the  county,"  answered  John,  eying 
him  critically,  "  always  excepting  Eli." 


126  ARROWS  OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

"  Then  will  he  do  the  same  ?  " 

"  No,"  said  John,  firmly ;  "  it  was  almost  too  much 
for  Eli." 

"  Very  well,  then.  Watch  !  "  and  with  a  resounding 
clack,  she  brought  down  the  stock.  Off  bolted  the  roan 
like  a  startled  hare. 

"  Great  God ! "  cried  John,  Eli  springing  after. 
"  Stop,  stop,  I  say !  You'll  kill  yourself !  Don't !  for 
God's  sake,  don't,  Nell !  " 

He  leaned  forward  in  his  stirrups,  commanding,  be 
seeching,  imploring  her  to  stop.  For  reply  she  looked 
back  a  moment  over  her  shoulder  and  waved  her  whip 
aloft  with  a  disdainful  laugh.  In  a  frenzy  John  struck 
his  spurs  deep.  Eli  responded  with  a  furious  bound. 
Two  more ;  already  John  saw  a  vague  line  of  fence 
looming  up  ahead,  heard  the  quick  pant  of  her  horse, 
and  the  wild  roll  of  the  hoofs.  Another  heave  of  Eli's 
flanks,  and  stretching  far  out  on  his  neck,  he  caught 
her  reins  in  his  clutching  hand.  Yet  so  close  were 
they  that  the  next  moment  her  horse  was  thrown 
rocking  against  the  bars.  She  swayed,  faint  and  dizzy, 
in  the  saddle,  stared  helplessly  into  the  yawning  ditch, 
and  suddenly  hung  limp  against  his  arm.  He  looked 
down  on  the  head  against  his  shoulder,  on  the  shut  lids, 
the  warm  cheek,  the  slender  neck,  and  the  heaving 
breast.  For  the  first  time  in  his  life  he  held  a  woman 
in  his  arms,  and  that  woman  was  beautiful. 

In  a  moment  her  eyes  opened  ;  her  cheeks  went  crim 
son,  and  struggling  to  regain  her  saddle,  she  fell  again 
against  his  shoulder. 

"  Don't  try  to  move  yet,  Nell,"  he  said  in  a  troubled 
voice. 

Everything  was  reeling  before  her  eyes.  Her  head 
was  heavy  on  his  shoulder,  and  his  arm  was  strong 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  127 

around  her.  It  was  the  woman  weak  and  helpless 
before  a  man  in  his  strength.  A  wave  of  emotion  over 
came  her  as  she  turned,  and  unconsciously  her  fingers 
tightened  on  his  coat. 

"  Listen,  John,"  she  said  faintly.  "  I  was  very  wicked 
—  I  —  I  never  meant  to  do  it.  I  knew  you  would  catch 
me." 

"And  if  I  hadn't?" 

"I  —  I  would  have  —  gone  on." 

He  drew  his  arm  tighter  about  her,  and  bending,  whis 
pered  in  her  ear,  "  Thank  God ! "  How  his  cheeks 
burned  where  her  hair  touched  them !  He  did  not 
know  what  he  did ;  he  did  not  hear  what  he  said.  He 
was  blinded,  swept  away  by  the  touch  of  her  body. 

Suddenly  she  put  his  arm  away,  frightened,  trem 
bling,  shrinking  from  his  side,  and  hurried  the  roan 
toward  the  road.  Only  once  did  their  eyes  meet,  when 
John,  who  had  sprung  to  lower  the  bars,  lifted  his  face 
to  hers  as  she  passed  with  bowed  head,  and  then  both 
glances  fell.  They  rode  home  in  silence,  neither  daring 
to  risk  the  sound  of  the  voice  or  the  glance  of  the  eyes, 
until  they  halted  at  last  before  the  steps.  She  took  his 
hand  without  looking  into  his  face,  fled  up  the  steps,  fled 
up  the  stairs  to  her  room,  and  flung  herself  down  upon 
the  bed,  crushing  her  palms  against  her  temples  —  while 
John,  forgetting  dinner,  forgetting  everything  but  the 
wonderful,  the  sudden,  the  troubling  emotions  surging 
within  him,  galloped  on,  and  on,  and  on. 

"What  has  come  over  me?"  he  cried.  "An  hour 
ago  I  could  look  on  her  calmly,  and  now — >and  now  !  " 

Before  a  man  is  capable  of  a  great  love  he  must  have 
felt  the  burning  need  of  it  in  his  life ;  the  longing  and 
the  hunger  for  the  companionship  it  alone  can  give. 
John,  with  his  restless  soul  seeking  an  outlet,  was  just  at 


i28  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

this  period,  and  all  at  once  he  had  looked  down  and 
seen  a  woman  in  his  arms,  and  felt  the  weight  of  her  body 
and  the  warmth  of  her  breath.  Then  he  had  looked 
up  into  her  eyes  and  found  a  soul  suddenly  aflame 
with  love.  It  was  the  strength  of  the  emotion  that  had 
swept  over  her  that  bewildered  him,  the  wonder  of  be 
ing  loved  that  intoxicated  him. 

The  days  now  fairly  trod  on  one  another's  heels  — 
days  of  riding  at  her  side,  days  spent  in  the  quiet 
parlor,  leaning  over  the  piano,  watching  the  eyes  that 
wavered  under  his  as  she  sang  his  favorite  ballads,  days 
of  long  walks  and  confidences,  when  he  spoke  to  her 
of  his  wonderings,  doubts,  and  seekings.  At  Windrift 
time  lagged  fearfully  after  supper,  and  his  nights  were 
long  and  heavy  with  impatience  for  the  morning. 

Luckily,  Captain  Brace,  returning  about  this  time, 
consented  to  sit  up  with  him,  listening  gravely  to  his 
discourses. 

"John,  my  boy,"  he  said  one  night,  with  a  mighty 
yawn,  as  they  were  camped  before  the  fire,  puffing  away 
at  their  pipes,  "  what  say  you  to  a  rubber  ?  It  is  dashed 
slow  here  without  your  friend  Jack.  Good  fellow,  Jack. 
Yes,  by  gad,  a  good  fellow.  It  will  pass  the  time." 

"  I'm  your  man,"  said  John,  yawning  in  turn,  ready 
for  anything  to  help  along  the  clock. 

The  captain  rose  smartly,  whipped  up  a  table,  and 
brought  out  a  pack  —  the  same  that  had  grown  limp 
under  the  fingers  of  another  Gaunt. 

"How  say  you?  Just  for  the  fun  of  the  game  —  no 
money,  eh  ?  I'm  too  old  a  hand  for  you." 

John  was  stretching  out  his  arms  lazily,  his  mind 
far  away.  He  did  not  notice  the  last  remark,  nor 
how  sharply  the  captain's  brilliant  eyes  were  following 
him. 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  129 

"  Thank  you,  no !  "  he  said,  settling  slowly  into  his 
chair.  "  Lord,  how  slow  the  time  goes  without  —  Jack! 
Thank  you,  no ;  I  have  had  my  warning." 

"  Glad  to  hear  you  say  so,  my  boy,"  the  captain  put  in, 
with  an  approving  nod.  "  I  was  going  to  refuse  myself, 
if  you'd  said  different,  and  that'd  hurt  you.  You're 
right ;  you  have  had  your  warning." 

They  played  that  night  and  the  next,  and  then  they 
played  no  more ;  the  popular  captain  sought  his  amuse 
ment  elsewhere. 

Each  night,  as  John  fretted  on  his  pillow,  he  would  say 
to  himself,  "  I  am  not  in  love  with  her —  I  know  that ;  " 
but  each  morning  he  went.  Helen  used  to  wait  his 
coming  in  the  garden,  her  heart  trembling  for  his  step. 
In  his  presence  she  was  like  a  little  child,  all  the  veil  of 
coquetry  torn  away,  never  to  be  used  again.  She  knew 
what  he  was  passing  through,  and  hung  breathlessly  on 
the  outcome. 

"  How  well  I  read  his  heart,"  she  meditated,  as  she 
passed  up  and  down  the  floor  at  night.  "  He  is  filled 
with  wonder,  with  doubt.  He  is  trying  to  know  his 
own  mind  now.  Some  day  I  shall  look  up  into  his 
eyes  and  see  —  and  see  —  oh,  what  shall  I  see!"  and 
she  threw  herself  on  her  knees,  and  buried  her  head  and 
prayed  for  pity  and  for  mercy.  She  would  sit  nervously 
rocking  at  the  window,  her  eyes  deserting  the  book  whose 
leaves  she  never  turned,  her  ear  trained  for  the  first  thud 
of  Eli's  gallop. 

Aunt  Hester  was  quite  overcome  by  her  condition, 
and  in  a  hundred  simple  womanly  ways  made  her  feel 
the  warm  motherly  heart  that  ached  for  her.  At  such 
times  the  tears  would  gather  in  the  girl's  eyes.  Once 
she  put  her  arm  about  the  old  lady  and  rested  her  head 
against  her  shoulder".  "  Oh,  Aunty,  Aunty  !  "  was  all  she 


i3o  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

could  say,  but  the  other  understood.  Her  eyes,  too, 
searched  the  young  fellow's  face  from  day  to  day. 

Eli  and  the  roan  went  often  together  nowadays. 
Once  they  jogged  to  the  county  bridge.  Gleaming  far 
down  the  bay  showed  the  sides  of  Windrift.  John 
pointed  out  the  white  patch  to  Nell  with  the  end  of  his 
whip.  What  a  strange  feeling  came  to  the  girl  as  she 
looked  upon  his  home  and  thought  —  "Perhaps." 

"Jack  comes  to-morrow,"  said  he,  trying  to  see  into 
her  face. 

"  Oh,  indeed,"  answered  Nell,  who  seemed  to  know 
perfectly  who  Jack  was. 

"  How  you  will  take  to  him !  He  is  the  best  fellow 
in  the  world." 

"  He  is  your  very  best  friend,  isn't  he  ? " 

"  Yes,  more  than  that.     How  he  will  like  you !  " 

"  What !  I  thought  he  was  the  sworn  enemy  of  our 
sex.  Never  mind  though,  I  know  I  shall  like  him." 

"  Why  ? "  asked  John,  for  the  tenth  time  touching  Eli 
forward  that  he  might  look  into  her  face.  "  Why,  Nell  ? " 

"  Because,"  said  she,  with  a  wave  of  her  hand ;  but  she 
kept  her  eyes  down  on  the  skirts  of  the  path.  "  See, 
Cousin,  how  bright  the  goldenrod  makes  the  road." 

"  But  why,  Nell  ?  "  persisted  John,  coming  closer.  The 
rogue  wanted  her  to  say,  "  Because  he  is  your  friend." 

"  Why  are  you  so  curious  ?  Because  —  why,  because 
you  have  given  such  a  good  description  of  him,  of 
course.  Here  we  are  at  our  brook  again.  Let's  dis 
mount  for  a  cool  drink." 

Before  she  could  stir  he  had  swung  himself  laughing 
from  his  saddle,  and,  running  to  the  brook,  he  stooped 
and  filled  his  hat  and  offered  it  to  her  with  a  splendid 
bow.  When  she  had  drunk  she  merely  said,  "Thank 
you,"  and  gave  it  back  to  him. 


ARROWS   OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  131 

"  You  never  look  at  me  any  more,  Nell,"  said  John, 
standing  at  the  roan's  head,  and  fastening  upon  her  his 
strong,  clear  eyes.  "When  we  ride,  your  glance  is 
always  on  the  ground,  and  now  that  I  am  at  your  feet, 
it  is  in  the  tree-tops." 

"  What  an  idea !  "  Her  glance  came  to  his  a  moment, 
and  then  wavered  and  fell. 

"  Oh,  God,  can't  he  see  ? "  she  cried  to  herself.  He 
was  on  Eli  again,  leading  the  way  down  the  bridle-path. 
They  were  in  the  deep  of  the  woods,  riding  along  a  thin 
lane  that  ran  straight  ahead  until,  in  the  distance,  it  lost 
itself  among  the  graceful  maples. 

"  How  small  the  world  is,  after  all,  Nell,"  John  cried 
suddenly,  turning  in  his  saddle.*  "  It  seems  now  as 
though  it  only  held  us  two." 

She  heard  what  he  said,  and  shook  her  head.  "  Ah, 
no,  John,  it  is  not  that,  it  is  wide  as  the  sky.  We  see 
so  many  people  once,  and  never  see  them  again.  I  so 
often  think,  John,  when  I  meet  some  one  I  like,  that  in 
a  year  he — she  will  be  utterly  lost  to  me,  swallowed  up 
in  the  great  multitude.  And  such  thoughts  will  come 
to  me  even  as  I  listen  to  their  voices,  and  look  upon 
their  faces.  No,  no,  John,  the  world  is  immense.  You 
do  not  know  it  as  I  do." 

"Perhaps  not.     I  wish  I  did." 

She  sighed  ;  she  was  tired  of  it,  and  longed  for  some 
thing  very  different. 

At  the  broadening  of  the  path  he  was  by  her  side 
again,  saying,  "  Nell,  look  in  my  face ;  I  like  to  see 
your  eyes  when  I  talk  to  you.  How  little  we  give  each 
other  of  ourselves  in  this  world.  Do  you  know  that  all 
the  people  I  have  ever  known,  even  Jack,  have  been 
afraid,  ashamed,  it  seemed  to  me,  to  let  me  see  their  true 
selves  —  except  you,  Nell.  Why  should  they  ?  I  don't 


i32  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

understand,  Nell.  Will  you  let  me  talk  to  you  ?  Tell 
me  what  you  feel  about  the  great  things  —  I  mean  life 
arid  death." 

"  I  don't  know,  John,"  she  said  hurriedly ;  "  I  have 
never  had  any  one  ask  me  that  before.  I  have  almost 
never  thought  of  it.  A  woman  lives  and  believes  more 
by  her  intuitions  ;  you  try  to  reason.  I  —  I  —  oh,  I 
don't  know.  My  intuition  has  taught  me  to  close  my 
eyes,  to  shut  my  ears.  I  don't  dare  to  think,  I  can't 
think.  There !  that  is  the  truth,  I  know." 

They  rode  along  in  silence. 

"  Oh,  why  did  you  ask  me,  John  ? "  she  said  at  last. 

"Why?  Because  —  I  don't  know."  He  laid  his 
hand  on  hers.  "  Wftll,  because,  Nell  —  I  have  never 
found  any  one  like  you  before  who  would  let  me  talk  to 
him.  And  there  is  so  much  I  want  to  talk  of." 

All  that  day  she  had  been  wondering  if  the  light  had 
yet  come  to  him.  As  his  hand  lay  on  hers,  a  sudden 
temptation  came  to  her.  She  knew  well  that  should  he 
hold  her  again  in  his  arms,  feel  again  the  appeal  of  her 
head  on  his  shoulder,  all  the  long  suspense  would  be 
over.  How  easy  it  would  be,  she  thought,  as  she 
looked  down  musingly  at  his  hand.  What  a  temptation 
came,  as  she  felt  the  pressure  of  his  palm  !  But  no ;  she 
drew  a  long  breath,  and  put  his  hand  gently  away. 

"  It  is  his  love  I  want,"  she  told  herself,  "  not  him." 

The  lane  ended  —  all  lanes  do.  They  came  back  into 
the  highway,  into  the  world  of  men.  In  the  west  squad 
rons  of  storm-clouds  were  beginning  to  climb  the  sky, 
the  tree-tops  were  swinging  in  the  rising  wind.  They 
put  whip  to  their  horses  and  began  to  gallop. 

"  It  will  pass,"  shouted  John,  with  a  nod  of  encourage 
ment.  "  How  black  everything  looks." 

Carriages  began  to  whirl  by  them,  fleeing  before  the 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  133 

storm ;  in  the  fields  the  bleating  sheep  were  making  for 
shelter,  when,  "  Hello  !  "  cried  John,  suddenly  ;  "  here's 
Captain  Brace,  running  home." 

Eli  was  a  length  ahead  of  the  roan.  The  two  men 
shouted  a  greeting  as  they  passed,  and  then  Captain 
Brace,  looking  up,  saw  Helen  Dare.  If  it  had  been 
stung  with  a  whip,  his  face  could  not  have  winced  more 
suddenly.  The  effect  on  Helen  was  almost  as  startling. 
The  color  flashed  out  of  her  face. 

"  No,  no ;  not  that.  It  can't  be  true,"  she  cried,  turn 
ing  in  the  saddle,  as  though  it  were  some  phantom  of  the 
storm.  He,  too,  on  the  impulse  had  turned.  It  was  true  ! 

John,  who  had  not  seen  the  encounter,  reined  in  his 
horse,  to  allow  her  to  come  alongside. 

"  That — was — Captain  Brace  ?  That  is  Captain  Brace, 
your  guardian  ? "  she  stammered.  She  thought  he  must 
hear  her  heart,  it  beat  so  loud. 

"  Yes,  that's  he." 

"  Captain  —  Brace  ?  " 

"  Ned  Brace,  yes,"  he  called  back  through  the  rum 
bling  of  the  storm.  "  My  guardian — queer  fellow.  Al 
ways  thought  there  was  something  serious  back  in  his 
life.  Disappointment  in  love,  perhaps.  Good  heavens, 
Nell ;  what  is  the  matter  ? " 

"  I  am  such  a  coward  about  the  lightning,"  she  an 
swered,  steadying  herself.  "  No  more  talking  now. 
Hurry ! " 

Away  with  redoubled  speed  flew  the  horses.  The 
black  clouds  shut  over  the  land  like  the  fall  of  night. 
John's  face,  the  horses,  the  passers-by,  all  began  to 
look  wan  and  unnatural  in  the  lurid  light.  Behind 
whirled  tree,  and  meadow,  and  house,  as  empty  and 
unreal  in  the  show  of  lightning  as  though  they  were  one 
vast  flitting  panorama. 


i34  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

They  bounded  over  a  noisy  bridge,  shaved  the  corners 
of  the  gate-post,  caught  the  avenue  in  half  a  dozen 
leaps,  bolted  through  the  second  gate,  snatched  open  by 
a  negro  just  in  time,  and  clattered  to  a  halt  at  last  before 
the  block. 

"There!"  cried  John,  springing  from  the  steaming 
horse.  "  A  glorious  race,  Nell !  " 

Uncle  Nim  and  Aunt  Hester  ran  out,  clapping  their 
hands.  The  stable  boys  scampered  up  for  the  horses. 
Nell  gave  him  her  hand,  and  slipped  down,  saying  :  — 

"  You  will  stay  ?  " 

He  shook  his  head. 

"  Nothing  I  like  better  than  a  race  in.  a  storm." 

She  watched  him  silently  as  he  tightened  the  girth. 
"  Please,"  she  repeated.  "You  will  be  drenched."  Oh, 
why  did  not  the  clouds  break,,  fall  crashing  to  the  earth, 
and  drive  him  in  with  their  torrents  ?  But  instead,  the 
wind  lurched. 

"  Hello,"  he  cried ;  "  we  shall  not  get  it,  after  all. 
The  blue  is  widening.  It  has  passed  us  by." 

It  was  only  too  true.  Hopelessly  she  saw  the  storm 
sweep  over  the  northern  horizon,  the  blue  breaking  out 
above. 

"  But  it  will  come  back ;  why  risk  it  ?  "  she  said 
desperately. 

He  shook  his  head  and  sprang  into  the  saddle.  "  Now 
to  be  off.  Twelve  miles  before  supper,  Nell." 

Twice  she  started  forward,  and  twice  she  checked  the 
words.  He  brought  Eli  to  the  block,  and  bared  his 
head,  and  stretched  down  his  hand.  She  saw  his  eyes, 
and  she  could  not  let  him  go.  Again  she  called  him 
back  as  he  started  off,  and  said  hurriedly :  "  Once 
more,  John,  I  beg  you  to  stay — for  my  sake.  I — I 
shall  be  so  worried." 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  135 

"  Nonsense,  Nell.     I  must  be  home  to-night." 

She  looked  up  at  him  suddenly,  and  cried  impul 
sively,  "  Why  do  you  refuse  me,  John  ? "  It  was  only 
to  hold  him  a  moment  longer. 

"  Why,"  said  the  young  fellow,  looking  down  and 
beginning  to  laugh,  "that's  the  way  to  win  a  woman, 
isn't  it?" 

"  If  he  loved  me,"  she  said  to  herself,  dumbly,  "  he 
never  could  have  said  that."  She  made  no  further 
attempt  to  detain  him. 

"  Until  to-morrow,  then,"  he  cried,  leaning  over  his 
saddle,  and  holding  out  his  hand. 

"  Good-by,"  she-  answered,  putting  her  hand  into  his, 
and  with  a  smile  she  looked  him  full  in  the  face. 


CHAPTER  XV 

ON  the  morning  before  the  scene  just  described,  Cap 
tain  Brace  had  strolled  out  lazily  on  the  veranda.  The 
most  appetizing  of  breakfasts  had  just  been  left  behind. 
John  had  bolted  through  the  postern  an  hour  before. 
Israel  had  brought  up  the  captain's  horse,  at  a  smart 
run,  and  now  stood  waiting  his  pleasure.  But  the  cap 
tain,  apparently  unconscious,  still  patrolled  the  veranda, 
blowing  rings  of  smoke  from  his  lips,  and  flicking 
his  cigar  with  an  easy,  thoughtful  toss  of  his  finger. 
Once  or  twice  he  stopped  short,  struck  by  some  sudden 
thought,  and  pensively  surveyed  the  long  terrace,  the 
neat  outhouses,  the  trim  fields,  and  the  high  avenue  of 
maple  and  beech.  The  air  was  brisk,  the  sky  fair,  the 
breeze  balmy,  and  over  all  floated  a  sense  of  quiet  and 
comfort ;  it  was  a  day  and  a  scene  to  tempt  the  city-sick. 
Presently  the  stumpy  figure  threw  away  the  smoking 
butt,  shrugged  his  shoulders  as  though  answering  a  self- 
propounded  question,  ran  down  the  steps,  and  took  his 
saddle  absently.  Israel,  who  was  lingering  near,  saw 
him  look  up  quickly  at  the  broad  mansion  and  rub  his 
chin  musingly,  and  heard  him  mutter,  "After  all  — 
why  not  ? "  as  he  gathered  up  the  reins.  Then  he 
passed  about  the  circle,  out  of  the  gate  and  slowly 
away. 

Whatever  were  the  suspicions  of  Colonel  Spott  (who 
indeed  still  clung  doggedly  to  his  first  impression)  Cap 
tain  Brace  never  made  any  secret  of  the  fact  that  he  had 

136 


ARROWS   OF   THE   ALMIGHTY  137 

"had  a  past,"  nor  did  he  pretend  at  the  present  time 
that  he  was  any  better  than  he  should  be.  On  his  own 
confession  he  was  a  man  of  the  world,  with  all  the  mean 
ing  read  into  the  phrase  when  one  man  pronounces  it  to 
another  with  a  lift  of  his  shoulders.  Perhaps  the  pros 
pect  and  the  serenity  of  the  day  had  tempted  him,  and 
grown  all  at  once  weary  of  the  gambling,  the  drinking, 
the  women,  and  what-not,  he  had  reflected  that  wrinkles 
were  coming  soon,  and  the  streaked  hair  was  fast  turn 
ing  all  of  one  color,  and  that  it  was  deucedly  comfortable 
here,  with  the  little  money  he  had  had,  and  the  neat  sum 
he  had  so  fortunately  won  at  the  last.  At  any  rate, 
whatever  may  have  been  the  motive,  he  determined  then 
and  there  to  give  over  and  reform. 

It  was  a  nice,  comfortable,  selfish  sort  of  repentance,  as 
such  repentances  are.  He  was  going  to  give  over  his  wild 
ways,  because  —  well  —  because  he  was  tired  of  them  ; 
he  was  going  in  for  virtue  and  respectability,  because 
—  well,  because  the  prospect  pleased  him.  Indeed,  just 
as  it  sometimes  occurs  in  this  inconsistent  world  of  ours 
that  a  man  of  forty  years'  steadiness  and  integrity  will, 
in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye,  break  loose  and  give  rein  to 
his  lower  nature,  so  the  captain,  after  a  long  record  of 
consistent  ill-doing,  had  grown  suddenly  sated  with  its 
monotony,  and  being  tempted  to  virtue,  had  listened, 
wavered,  and  fallen. 

Feeling  very  virtuous  —  for  after  deciding,  for  what 
ever  reasons,  on  a  virtuous  action,  is  it  not  in  the  nature 
of  man  to  give  it  virtuous  causes  ?  —  feeling  kindly  dis 
posed  to  simple  honesty  and  quiet  joys,  he  had  ridden 
forth  on  the  day  of  the  storm.  He  was  in  this  com 
fortable  and  complacent  mood,  when  suddenly,  at  the 
turn  of  the  road,  a  vision  of  the  past  rose  up  before  him 
and  smote  his  eyes. 


i38  ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

At  the  sound  of  the  hoofs  down  the  avenue,  Jonah, 
whose  duty  it  was  to  tend  the  gate,  rushed  out,  to  let 
the  foam-speckled  horse  dart  through.  Israel  running 
up,  a  moment  tardy,  to  take  the  bridle,  expecting  to  be 
covered  with  a  storm  of  abuse  after  the  captain's  usual 
manner,  was  astounded  to  see  him  throw  himself  off 
without  a  word.  Brace's  quick  eyes  shot  a  sidelong 
glance,  a  gesture  indicated  his  return,  and  without  a 
word  he  glided  quickly  up  the  steps  and  into  the  house. 
Fifteen  minutes  later  the  door  opened,  and  he  came  down 
the  flight,  and  without  a  glance  to  right  or  left,  swung 
into  the  saddle  and  rode  away  into  the  coming  storm. 

A  negro,  tracking  through  the  Caxton  fields  a  little 
later,  according  to  an  account  afterward  delivered,  saw 
the  captain  spurring  furiously  along  the  road,  and, 
following  him  curiously  with  his  eyes,  beheld  him 
suddenly  check  his  horse  at  the  edge  of  the  woods, 
dismount,  and,  leading  the  animal  by  the  bridle,  dis 
appear  among  the  trees.  Aroused  by  such  unwonted 
actions,  the  negro  made  his  way  quickly  into  the 
cedars  and  came  abruptly  upon  the  captain  tethering 
the  horse.  Unaware  of  the  intruder,  Brace  turned, 
threaded  his  way  toward  the  road,  selected  a  clump  of 
bushes  that  commanded  the  view,  screened  himself, 
pulled  out  his  watch  impatiently,  and  began  to  wait. 
Half  an  hour  later  the  chance  observer  of  the  scene 
caught  the  sound  of  distant  hoof-beats,  and  saw  the 
captain  quickly  prick  up,  pocket  his  watch,  and  crouch 
down.  A  moment  later  John  Gaunt  passed  by  at  an 
easy  canter,  cracking  his  whip  and  trolling  a  drink 
ing  chorus. 

Hardly  had  the  noise  of  his  going  died  away  before 
the  captain  sprang  up,  and  came  nonchalantly  back, 
cutting  the  air  in  careless  circles  with  his  whip.  He 


ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY  139 

untethered   his   horse,  jumped  up,   and  rode  leisurely 
home  by  the  way  by  which  he  had  come. 

When  Captain  Brace  came  in,  John  was  standing 
before  the  fire  drying  his  clothes. 

"  What,  Captain,  you  caught,  too  ? "  he  cried,  at  the 
sight  of  the  dripping  collar. 

The  captain  made  a  wry  face.  "  Gad,  I  thought  it 
would  blow  over.  Sol,  bring  me  that  decanter  of 
whiskey.  John,  make  room  for  a  fellow-sufferer.  Quite 
a  fair  companion,  my  boy,  I  saw  you  with."  . 

"Yes,  rather,"  John  said,  with  the  awkwardness  of 
a  first  affair. 

"  Don't  give  in  to  them,  John,"  pursued  the  captain, 
tapping  him  on  the  shoulder.  "The  more  you  take 
your  own  way,  the  more  they  like  you.  The  young 
lady's  a  visitor,  isn't  she  ?  " 

"She  is  a  Miss  Dare,  from  Philadelphia,"  answered 
John,  dryly,  disliking  the  turn  of  the  conversation. 
"  She  is  staying  at  my  Uncle  Nirn's." 

"  So  ?  When  does  Jack  come  ?  To-morrow  ?  Ah, 
here's  the  whiskey.  Until  supper,  John.  Here's  suc 
cess  to  you."  At  the  door  he  added,  "  By  the  way,  I'm 
off  for  a  little  trip  to-morrow  —  can't  say  how  long. 
So  remember  me  to  Jack." 

When  the  captain  had  quit  the  room,  John  was  con 
scious  of  a  little  irritation.  No  young  fellow  likes  to 
bear  the  banter  of  his  gallantries. 

"Why  the  deuce  don't  people  mind  their  own  busi 
ness  ?  "  thought  he.  "  Can't  a  man  have  a  friendship 
with  a  woman  without  every  one  immediately  sticking 
his  tongue  in  his  cheek  ?  Hang  it,  if  Jack  begins  this 
way,  it'll  spoil  a  very  lovely  friendship." 

And  so  by  dint  of  repeating  to  himself  again  and 


I4o  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

again  that  they  were  merely  friends,  he  naturally,  after 
supper,  came  to  question  if  this  were  indeed  the  truth. 
Captain  Brace  having  ridden  off  to  Bromfield  on  a 
business  excuse,  John  was  left  to  his  own  amusement. 
He  wandered  into  the  big  parlor  and  stood  before  the 
blazing  hickory,  feet  wide  apart,  arms  folded,  head 
thrown  back  toward  the  balcony  —  a  characteristic 
pose. 

"  Confound  it ! "  continued  John  Gaunt,  Esq.,  "  now 
what  will  Jack  say  ?  He  does  so  make  fun  of  every 
thing,  and  I  am  not  in  a  mood  for  ridicule,"  he  said, 
with  a  shake  of  his  head.  "  Nothing  breaks  up  friend 
ship  so  quick  as  that." 

By  this  time,  having  argued  the  question  in  full  with 
his  conscience,  he  had  reverted  to  the  conclusion  that 
neither  he  nor  the  party  of  the  second  part  desired  or 
sought  anything  beyond  the  enjoyments  of  a  purely 
platonic  friendship.  Alas  when  for  the  moment,  a  man 
resorts  to  arguing  with  his  conscience :  he  can  make  him 
self  believe  whatever  he  desires.  A  conscience  is  an 
extraordinarily  timid  debater.  Like  all  tyrants  ruling 
by  dictums  and  fiats,  once  question  its  authority,  force  it 
to  the  test  of  reason,  it  is  struck  dumb  and  retires  at  dis 
cretion,  and  the  victory  over  it  is  absurdly  complete. 
Show  it  a  bold  front — it  retreats ;  argue — it  acquiesces ; 
but  once  turn  your  back,  and  behold  the  hyena  is  howl 
ing  at  your  heels.  So  John,  having  to  his  satisfaction 
proven  his  present  conduct  not  merely  open  but  honor 
able,  and  having  routed  ingloriously  the  last  scruple, 
something  whispered  in  his  ear,  "Well,  what  about 
Jack?  What  is  he  going  to  say  when  you  ride  off 
to-morrow  afternoon  ?  What  of  that  ? " 

As  this  was  simply  a  question  of  fact,  with  little  doubt 
as  to  how  the  irrepressible  Jack  would  act,  John,  in 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  141 

decidedly  bad  humor,  gave  up  his  revery  and  made 
for  the  bookcase.  There  he  chose  a  copy  of  Cervantes' 
history  of  the  sorrowful  knight,  a  favorite  book  of 
his  mother's,  and  drew  up  before  the  fire.  Her  hand 
writing  was  on  the  margins,  her  fingers  had  underscored 
many  a  favorite  passage.  The  sight  of  the  dear  writ 
ing,  thin  and  delicate,  with  the  little  curves  over  the  t's 
and  the  flourished  loops,  never  failed  to  lead  him  into 
depressing  meditation.  He  thumbed  the  leaves,  but  it 
was  only  to  catch  the  pencilled  notes ;  he  skimmed  a 
page,  but  it  was  only  to  recall  a  passage  she  had  loved. 
How  often  had  he  listened  to  these  very  words,  ensconced 
at  her  knee,  or  cuddled  in  the  big  tester  bed,  blinking  at 
the  singing  pine-knots  in  the  fireplace ! 

He  passed  through  to  the  very  last  page,  to  the 
"Finis"  at  the  bottom,  and  turned  down  the  cover  gently 
and  let  the  book  drop  on  his  knees.  Presently  he 
rose  and  began  to  walk  back  and  forward,  halting  every 
now  and  then  before  a  window,  a  picture,  or  a  door. 
When,  at  length,  he  turned  and  came  back,  there  was 
a  new  light  in  his  eyes,  of  calm  and  of  decision. 

"  I  suppose  it  is  because  I  am  so  restless  that  I  have 
been  blind,"  he  thought,  staring  down  into  the  blaze. 
"  I  do  not  know  what  it  was  came  over  me,  but  I  do  not, 
I  never  can,  love  her.  And  I  have  played  with  her  — 
yes,  wanted  her  to  fall  in  love  with  me.  It  was  not 
right."  He  recalled  a  dozen  incidents  —  the  tones  of  her 
voice,  her  entreaties  for  him  to  stay,  the  look  in  her 
eyes.  "  Yes,  I  know  I  have  deceived  her.  There  is  but 
one  thing  to  be  done :  I  shall  tell  her  the  truth,  and  ask 
her  forgiveness.  There  must  be  no  misunderstanding." 

Aunt  Liza,  passing  through  the  upper  hall  sometime 
later,  saw  a  candle  burning  in  the  great  bedroom,  and 
tiptoeing  down  found  John  standing  before  his  mother's 


142  ARROWS  OF  THE   ALMIGHTV 

portrait.  The  young  fellow  looked  up.  "  Aunt  Liza, 
you  knew  her  when  she  was  a  girl,  didn't  you  ? " 

"  Yes,  honey." 

"  She  was  very  beautiful  ?  " 

"  Yes,  honey." 

"  You  may  move  this  in  the  morning.  Place  it  over 
my  bed." 

"  Yes,  honey,"  she  answered ;  and  after  he  had  passed 
out  of  the  room,  she  stole  back  and  stood  peering  up  at 
the  portrait,  and  drawing  her  hand  across  her  eyes. 

Breakfast  was  hardly  ended  before  Israel  and  the 
team  were  at  the  steps.  Captain  Brace  came  out  with 
John  and  examined  the  luggage,  and  shaking  hands,  was 
about  to  spring  into  the  coach,  when  he  suddenly  stopped, 
one  foot  on  the  step,  and  said  :  — 

"John,  my  boy,  what  do  you  think  I  am  going  to 
ask  you  ?  " 

"  I  am  sure  I  don't  know." 

"Well  —  a  bottle  of  the  family  port,"  the  captain 
cried,  with  a  burst  of  laughter.  "Gad,  do  you  know, 
I've  a  feeling  something's  going  to  happen  to  me  this 
time,  and,  curse  it,  I  should  hate  to  die  away  from 
such  wine." 

John,  wondering  at  the  request,  went  in  and  presently 
returned  with  one  of  the  famous  bottles.  "  There,  Cap 
tain,  I  begin  to  believe  you're  running  away  for 
good." 

"  If  I  were,  I'd  carry  off  the  whole  cellar,  damme  if 
I  wouldn't,"  the  other  roared.  "John,  I'll  drink  to 
your  success,  always.  John,  take  care  of  yourself. 
Good-by." 

He  gripped  the  young  fellow's  hand,  nodded  twice 
in  great  good  humor,  and  hopped  into  the  seat.  When 


ARROWS  OF  THE   ALMIGHTY  143 

the  coach  rounded  the  circle,  he  thrust  his  head  out  of 
the  window.  John  had  gone  in,  but  until  the  coach 
turned  the  postern  at  the  end  of  the  long  avenue,  the 
captain's  shock  head  remained  out  gazing  back. 

Jack  came  in  the  afternoon,  at  one,  like  a  breeze  in 
midsummer.  John  was  on  the  point  of  unbosoming 
himself,  when  the  thought  came  to  him  that  the  con 
fidence  was  not  his  alone.  So  the  next  day  when,  after 
breakfast,  Eli  was  led  around,  John  merely  said  in  an 
swer  to  Jack's  inquiry  :  — 

"  I  have  done  something  I  am  sorry  for,  Jack,  and  I 
am  going  off  this  afternoon  to  apologize.  Forgive  my 
leaving  you  so  soon." 

Jack,  with  an  impudent  rejoinder  on  his  tongue,  looked 
up  and  saw  from  his  friend's  face  that  the  affair  was 
serious. 

"  What  ?  —  oh,  yes !  Off  with  you,  you  rascal !  How 
dare  you  consider  me  a  stranger  !  Or  do  you  linger  to 
admire  my  silky  whiskers  ? "  He  had  returned  with 
these  stylish  appendages.  "They  are  highly  spoken 
of  in  some  quarters.  I'll  drop  in  at  the  Bull's  Eye, 
and  sample  some  of  Lufkin's  sherry." 

Off  went  John,  gritting  his  teeth ;  for  though  since 
his  decision  a  load  seemed  to  have  slipped  from  his 
shoulders,  as  he  neared  his  destination  he  began  to 
wonder  how  Helen  would  receive  the  tender  of  his 
apologies. 

"I  —  I — think  she  is  fond  of  me,"  he  said.  He 
meant  to  be  humble,  but  what  man  could  resist  the 
pleasure  of  such  a  thought  ?  "  Yes,  I  believe  Nell  is 
deucedly  fond  of  me.  How  she  looked  at  me  that  day 
in  the  woods !  How  frightened  she  was  the  night  I  rode 
off!  Poor  Nell,  I  hope  it  hasn't  gone  too  far;  I  should 


i44  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

never  forgive  myself.  It  will  be  hard,  very  hard ;  but 
it  must  be  done." 

His  uneasiness  increased  as  they  reached  the  avenue 
and  Eli  trotted  slowly  past  the  gate,  through  which  he 
had  always  raced.  John  set  his  lips  tight  and  muttered 
"  Courage ! "  for  the  truth  was,  at  the  bottom  he  felt 
decidedly  for  flight. 

The  terrace  was  silent ;  there  was  no  one  on  the  porch 
to  meet  him.  At  the  noise  of  his  approach  the  door 
opened  and  Aunt  Hester  came  gravely  out.  John  gave 
her  the  accustomed  greeting,  but  the  ring  of  his  voice 
was  not  that  of  old,  as  he  asked,  "Where  is  Cousin 
Nell?" 

"  She  left  this  morning,"  said  the  old  lady,  looking  up 
solemnly. 

He  said  not  a  word;  he  could  not  utter  a  sound,  but 
sat  and  stared. 

"  She  was  called  away  suddenly.  She  left  this  letter 
for  you,"  and  so  saying,  Aunt  Hester  brought  out  an 
envelope  from  behind  her  skirt  and  handed  it  up  to 
him.  As  in  a  dream  his  fingers  closed  over  ft.  He 
was  staggered  by  the  suddenness  of  the  stroke.  He 
made  her  a  half  bow,  seeing  only  the  staring  inscription, 
"  John  Gaunt,"  mumbled  something,  and  clapped  his 
heels  to  Eli.  He  wanted  to  escape,  to  fly  somewhere 
where  he  might  be  free  to  read. 

He  rode  a  mile  on  the  highway  and  then  turned  aside 
down  a  bridle-path  and  brought  out  the  crumpled  little 
envelope  from  his  pocket.  It  was  the  first  letter  she 
had  written  him.  He  let  the  reins  fall  on  Eli's  neck, 
who  turned  at  once  to  cropping  the  grass  under  the  big 
sycamore.  He  opened  the  envelope  in  a  clumsy  effort, 
with  fingers  that  trembled.  Then  he  smoothed  the 
sheet  out  carefully  before  him  and  read :  — 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY      ,          145 

"DEAR  COUSIN  JOHN:  — 

"  When  you  read  this  letter  I  shall  be  far  on  my  way  to  my  home, 
where  I  have  been  suddenly  called.  I  do  not  know  whether  I  shall 
ever  see  you  again  ;  probably  not.  So  I  send  you  this  letter,  which 
will  be  at  once  my  explanation  and  my  farewell.  I  hope  you  will 
always  remember  me  as  kindly  in  your  thoughts  as  I  do  you  in  mine. 
"  Your  friend  and  cousin, 

"HELEN  DARE." 

That  was  all  —  barely  a  dozen  lines.  How  cold  they 
seemed  !  He  put  the  letter  in  his  pocket  and  rode  on 
slowly  until  he  came  opposite  the  meadow  with  the 
fence  and  ditch  beyond,  where  he  had  caught  her  in 
his  arms. 

"  She  never  loved  me,"  he  said  bitterly.  "  She  de 
ceived  me  with  her  eyes  and  the  tones  of  her  voice. 
How  she  used  to  look  at  me  !  and  now  she  tosses  me 
over  like  an  old  glove.  What  a  fool,  what  a  blind  little 
fool  I  have  been!  It  was  just  play,  just  one  more  to 
her,  and  I  —  and  I,  oh  God,  how  I  loved  her ! " 


CHAPTER  XVI 

JOHN  had  gone  full  of  remorse,  he  returned  head 
over  heels  in  love;  and  as  it  is  instinctive  to  reduce 
everything  to  logic,  he  assured  himself  thus :  "  How 
vainly  I  tried  to  deceive  myself,  last  night !  but  I  know 
now  —  oh,  yes,  I  know  now,"  and  Eli,  taking  advantage 
of  his  master's  abstraction,  pursued  the  road  at  a  lazy 
trot. 

The  truth  is,  that  on  the  preceding  night,  the  young 
conqueror  believed  all  that  he  needed  to  do  was  to  cast 
down  the  royal  handkerchief,  for  Helen  to  make  him 
a  grateful  bow  and  clutch  it  to  her  breast.  He  had 
played  the  game  —  the  game  of  all  games  —  and  he 
had  won.  So,  having  the  prize  virtually  in  hand,  he 
naturally  had  inquired  of  himself  if  he  really  wanted 
it;  if,  after  all,  the  satisfaction  of  winning  were  not 
sufficient ! 

It  is  generally  so  when  a  young  fellow  who  has  just 
achieved  the  dignity  of  manhood  is  thrown  in  company 
with  a  lady  of  more  than  three  seasons.  Vanity  whis 
pers  to  him  the  desire  to  know  if  he  can  win  where  (of 
course)  so  many  have  failed  to  move.  Depend  upon  it, 
ninety  cases  in  a  hundred,  if  the  lady  should  be  so 
indiscreet  as  to  let  him  perceive  the  force  of  his  charms, 
the  rascal  would  never  reach  the  interesting  point. 
Fortunately  we  learn  as  we  live  —  and  any  lady  of 
more  than  three  seasons  is  well  versed  in  the  strategy 
of  the  game. 

146 


ARROWS   OF   THE   ALMIGHTY  147 

And  so,  suddenly  discovering  that  Helen  was  not 
dying  of  love,  for  him,  —  indeed  was  so  little  smitten 
that  she  had  gayly  danced  away  (to  other  men,  he 
thought  savagely)  with  only  a  scrap  of  paper  for  her 
adieu,  —  discovering  that  whereas  he  had  ridden  over 
full  of  generous,  if  mistaken  resolves,  she  had  all  the 
while  been  laughing  up  her  sleeve,  —  discovering  finally 
that  instead  of  his  casting  the  handkerchief  of  favor  to 
her,  it  is  she  who  has  dropped  him  a  mitten  ;  having 
suddenly  come  face  to  face  with  all  these  evidences  of 
double  dealing,  John  decided  at  once  that  he  was  madly 
in  love.  He  was  a  victim  to  a  hopeless  and  unrequited 
passion.  He  had  thrown  away  all  his  youthful  affec 
tions  and  the  frank  outpourings  of  his  mind,  on  a  — 
"No,  I  won't  call  her  names,"  he  cried.  *'I  can't  forget 
that  I  loved  her.  Oh,  Nell,  Nell !  " 

It  was  not  disappointed  love  but  only  wounded  van 
ity.  But  of  the  two,  the  latter  ailment  pains  the 
more.  For  when  a  man  is  suddenly  infected  with  the 
ills  of  vanity,  he  pronounces  it  at  once  to  be  the  affec 
tion  of  the  heart  (else  it  would  not  be  vanity),  and 
assumes  all  the  aches  and  groans  which  he  knows 
attend  that  dread  disease  ;  but  always,  beyond,  there  are 
the  mortifying  twinge  and  the  rankling  sting  that  come 
not  with  simple,  honest  heartache. 

John,  of  course,  understood  nothing  of  the  nature  of 
his  illness,  —  if,  indeed,  any  one  ever  does,  —  and  the 
world  was  all  blacks  and  grays  to  him  on  that  smiling 
afternoon.  He  felt  very  savage,  raging  inwardly;  he 
could  never,  never  forgive  her.  She  had  abused  his 
confidence,  she  had  stricken  all  his  faith  in  human 
nature.  He  felt  that  he  would  never  be  the  same  here 
after.  That  we  call  an  illness  by  the  wrong  name  does 
not  make  it  any  easier  to  bear.  John  was  wretched, 


i48  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

defeated  —  routed.  He  had  borne  enough,  he  had 
reached  the  breaking  point  at  last.  What  was  there  in 
life  for  him  but  to  forget  —  to  have  it  through  quickly  ? 
At  one  moment  he  thought  of  running  away  to  sea,  on 
the  next  ship,  to  California,  Africa,  Australia,  anywhere 
to  escape  from  himself.  The  thought  of  his  mother  and 
her  guiding  influence  never  came  to  him.  When  he  . 
reached  home,  he  did  not  seek  her  books  or  stand  before 
her  portrait,  neither  that  day  nor  the  next  nor  for  many 
after.  He  did  not  want  help  —  the  very  thought  irri 
tated  him.  He  wanted  to  brood  alone. 

"  Where's  Mr.  Jack  ?  "  he  called,  swinging  off  before 
the  steps.  Jack  had  sent  a  note  to  say  he  had  met 
friends  and  would  not  be  home  for  supper.  John  knew 
the  names,  they  were  of  his  class  at  Yale,  of  the  sort 
reputed  "  good  fellows  "  by  their  friends. 

"  I  must  do  something,"  he  said,  with  a  rise  of  his 
shoulder.  "  Sol,  serve  the  supper,  and  have  Israel  hitch 
up  the  grays  right  away." 

That  night  Lufkin  was  kept  busy,  bustling  around  a 
table  of  seven  as  jolly  fellows  as  ever  made  the  Bull's  ^ 
Eye  ring  with  their  shouts,  and  not  too  easy  to  please. 
When  Jack  had  come  bursting  into  the  public  room 
that  afternoon,  and  had  rung  loudly  with  a  glass  on  the 
table,  and  shouted,  "  Tony,  come  forth,"  two  figures 
started  forward  simultaneously,  with  cries  of,  "Why, 
little  Johnnie  Gay  !  " 

"  Bless  my  eyes,  why,  Tommie  Bayly,  you  old  vil 
lain  ! "  cried  Jack,  flinging  his  arms  around  a  little  roly- 
poly  man  with  a  jolly  eye.  "  Oh,  my  eyes  and  whiskers  ! 
Toppin  !  Well,  well  —  and,  wait  a  moment  —  Troutman 
in  the  shadow  —  I'll  bet  3  to  I  it's  Davie  behind  the 
door," 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  149 

"  Hello,  little  Johnnie,"  a  big  voice  exclaimed,  and 
Davie  emerged,  caught  Master  Jack  about  the  waist, 
and  tossed  him  to  the  ceiling.  Lufkin  rushing  in  ex 
citedly,  found  them  capering  in  a  circle. 

"  Ho,  ho,  enough,  enough,  for  heaven's  sake  !  "  Jack 
puffed,  out  of  breath,  and,  letting  go  of  hands,  each  shot 
off  into  a  corner. 

Lufkin,  grinning  like  a  Cheshire  cat,  wiped  his  hands 
on  his  apron  and  shook  hands  with  the  returned  prodigal. 
"  Glad  to  see  you,  Mr.  Hazard,  glad  to  see  you  again.  I 
might  have  known  it  was  you ;  and  Mr.  John,  I  hope 
you  found  him  well  ?  " 

"  Sure  enough,  Jack,  where's  Johnnie  Glum  ? "  broke 
in  Bayly.  "  Haven't  seen  you  two  since —  since —  " 

"  Since  that  night,  eh  ? "  Jack  finished  with  a  cough. 
"  Great  night  —  memorable  —  night  on  which  they 
chucked  poor  Jack.  You  start  —  you  look  surprised  — 
gather  and  listen,  my  sons,"  and  with  a  histrionic  gesture 
he  indicated  table  and  seats. 

The  collegians  with  looks  of  dismay  gathered  about 
Lufkin,  with  a  hand  on  a  chair  and  a  hand  on  his  hip,  his 
good  ear  tilted  forward,  prepared  to  enjoy  some  new 
escapade  of  Jack's. 

"  In  preface,"  began  the  little  fellow,  producing  an 
envelope,  "  allow  me  to  say  I  am  staying  with  John  Gaunt, 
whom  you  have  so  familiarly  addressed,.  And  now,  rum- 
una>  as  William  the  First  has  said,  lend  me  your  ears. 
Here  is  the  decree.  Received  to-day.  A-hem ! 

"•DEAN'S  OFFICE. 
"'MR.  JOHN  JAY  HAZARD, — 

" '  Dear  Sir :  I  regret  exceedingly  to  inform  you  that  at  the  last 
session  of  the  sophomore  faculty,  before  whom  your  case  came  up, 
it  was  thought  advisable  to  ask  your  resignation.  Indeed,  the 
sentiment  of  the  meeting  was  for  immediate  expulsion,  and  I  fear  the 
verdict  would  have  been  to  that  end,  had  not  Prpfessor  Roottneyer 


'5° 


ARROWS  OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 


[good  for  the  Roman  !  It  was  the  translations,  Davie,  ahem . 
interceded  in  your  favor  and  mitigated  the  severity  of  the  sentence. 
You  will  accordingly  be  allowed  until  the  I5th  instant  to  forward 
your  resignation  as  a  member  of  this  college.  In  conclusion,  permit 
me  to  add  that  I  retain  only  the  kindest  recollections  of  your  manly 
conduct  in  confessing  your  error,  and  regret  the  public  accident, 
which  I  am  sure  you  will  realize  could  have,  in  the  interest  of  college 
discipline,  no  other  ending.' 

"There!"  cried  Jack,  throwing  the  letter  in  the  air, 
as  though  to  signify,  Up  goes  the  sponge.  "  There 
is  the  epitaph.  Here,  gentlemen,  and  very  pleased  to 
meet  you,  is  the  tomb." 

The  seekers  after  knowledge  were  in  consternation. 

"  Oh,  come  now,  Gay,  it's  not  true ;  you're  hoaxing 
us." 

"  Why,  little  Johnnie,  what  will  the  college  do  with 
out  you  ? " 

"  The  widow'll  be  disconsolate." 

"  I  say,  that's  tough  !  " 

Evidently  there  were  two  opinions  as  to  Mr.  Hazard's 
value  as  a  member  of  the  college. 

"Well,  it  is  true,"  Jack  answered,  forcing  a  comical 
face ;  "  and  unless  the  faculty  discover  soon  how  neces 
sary  I  am  to  its  welfare,  I'm  afraid  I  have  walked  my 
last  beneath  the  elms,  and  drunk  my  last  drink  at  the 
old  Oyster  House.  Vale!  Vale!  But  come,  I  say; 
because  one  well  is  dry,  all  are  not  empty.  I  say,  atop, 
and  let's  make  a  dinner  of  it  here.  We'll  take  the 
small  parlor.  We'll  celebrate  —  we'll  —  we'll  have  a 
wake,  and  at  the  end  I'll  write  my  resignation.  Say, 
here's  a  lark  !  Hello,  there  go  the  Caxtons  and  Wellyn  ! 
Say  yes,  and  I'll  have  'em  in.  Yes  or  no  ?  The  ayes 
have  it ! " 

With  such  a  toastmaster  as  Jack,  no  meeting  could 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  151 

have  been  a  failure.  The  Caxtons  sang  an  admirable 
duet,  and  Tom  Bayly  gave  his  famous  laughing  song,  to 
repeated  encores,  until  the  room  implored  him  to  desist. 
Through  the  window  they  could  hear  the  listening 
darkies  roaring  with  laughter.  Jack  served  up  his  best 
imitations,  and  was,  as  he  said,  on  the  whole  a  very 
lively  corpse.  Tommie  was  in  the  midst  of  his  take 
off  on  the  stuttering  minister,  when  John  arrived.  He 
stood  a  moment  in  the  dusk  of  the  hall,  looking  in  at 
the  jolly  company  with  that  indefinable  melancholy  that 
comes  to  a  spectator  whose  mood  is  alien  to  the  revelry 
about  him. 

Bayly,  with  his  droll  cheeks,  was  declaiming ;  the 
collegians  were  rocking  in  their  seats,  clapping  the 
table  with  their  glasses  and  shouting,  "  Good  old  Tom 
mie  ;  "  Lufkin  was  grinning ;  the  negroes  were  clasping 
their  sides  with  the  pain  of  their  laughter ;  while  Jack, 
like  the  spirit  of  frolic,  presided  at  the  head  of  the  table 
over  a  bowl  of  punch. 

"  I  wonder,"  thought  the  poor  fellow  in  the  hall,  "if 
there  really  is  such  a  thing  as  drowning  your  sorrow  ? 
I  am  in  a  mood  for  anything  to-night,"  and  flinging 
open  the  door,  he  strode  into  the  light  of  the  acclaim 
ing  room. 

Now  at  college,  John,  while  by  no  means  a  hermit, 
had  never  won  the  degree  of  "  good  fellow,"  one  degree 
which  to  this  day  has  never  lost  in  popularity.  He 
liked  to  take  a  quiet  glass  off  in  a  corner  with  a  friend 
or  two.  When  he  found  himself  in  a  crowd,  which  was 
seldom,  he  lapsed  into  a  silent  spectator  of  the  frolic, 
which  Jack  was  sure  to  be  leading. 

Yet  in  ten  minutes  he  had  plunged  in  savagely,  and 
was  stamping  his  glass  louder  than  the  rest.  He  made 
huge  demands  on  the  punch,  and  croaked  out  the  cho- 


152  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

ruses  in  a  thundering  bass,  remarkable  chiefly  for  its  vol 
ume.  But  his  gayety  was  forced,  and  there  lacked  the 
true  ring  to  his  voice.  Yet  the  more  distasteful  it  became, 
the  more  blindly  did  he  determine  to  continue.  His 
wild  actions  puzzled  Jack. 

"  What  the  deuce  has  come  over  him  ? "  he  thought, 
and  began  to  cast  anxious  glances  toward  his  friend. 

Now  between  John  Gaunt  and  Toppin  there  had  been 
small  cordiality.  The  latter,  ironically  saluted  as  Snob- 
bin  and  Foppin  by  his  loving  classmates,  was  generally 
unpopular  for  the  qualities  suggested.  John,  who  hated 
affectation,  had  a  cordial  detestation  of  him,  a  feeling 
which  the  other  returned  as  only  a  man  can  who  knows 
he  is  found  out. 

On  the  present  occasion  Toppin,  a  flashy,  bloated  fel 
low  with  a  reputation  for  hard  drinking,  being  already 
flushed  with  his  previous  exertions,  proceeded  to  make 
himself  obnoxious.  He  pooh-poohed  the  wine,  berated 
Lufkin  until  the  host  grew  red  in  the  face,  pronounced 
the  punch  flabby,  and  finally,  singling  out  John,  began 
to  ridicule  his  bass  singing.  John,  though  sorely  pro 
voked,  held  himself  well  in  hand. 

"  He-he ! "  cried  Toppin,  with  a  crowing  imitation. 
"A  solo  from  Johnnie  Glum.  Hear,  hear,  a  solo!  a 
solo  ! " 

"  Damn  you,  shut  up  !  "  burst  out  Troutman  with  an 
oath.  "  Don't  you  mind  him,  John,  he's  maudlin." 

"  I  maudlin  ?  No,  no  —  it's  John-nie  Glum  !  Look 
at  him,  he's  had  three  glasses  !  What  a  devil!  Ho, 
ho,  ho ! " 

"Curse  the  little  simpering  snob,"  sputtered  John, 
brought  to  the  rope-end  of  his  patience.  "  Here,  I've 
had  enough.  See  here,  you  Foppin,  I've  a  good  mind 
to  smash  your  confounded  little  head.  Because  I  don't 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  153 

choose  to  brag,  it  doesn't  mean  I  haven't  twice  as  steady 
a  head  as  you." 

"  Who's  braggin'  now  ?  " 

"  Shut  up !  shut  up  !  "  —  from  Jack  and  the  Caxtons. 

"  Put  him  under  the  pump,"  from  Troutman's  rum 
bling  voice. 

John  drew  back,  grown  suddenly  quiet,  as  was  his  way 
when  planning  something  particularly  daring. 

"Very  well.  See  here,  Toppin —  I'll  bet  you  twenty 
dollars  I  drink  you  under  the  table,  glass  for  glass." 

"  What  ?     Done  !  " 

Jack  jumped  up  and  ran  to  his  friend  to  dissuade  him. 
John  swept  him  aside  with  one  arm. 

"  I  have  said  it,  I  have  said  it,  and  I  will  do  it.  And 
what's  more,"  he  added,  with  a  crash  of  his  tumbler  and 
a  snap  of  the  eyes,  "  you  —  you  Toppin,  I'll  carry  you 
home  on  my  shoulders  afterward,  or  forfeit  the  stakes." 

Jack  was  about  to  protest  again,  but  Davie  plucked 
him  away,  whispering,  "  Let  him  be,  Jack ;  he  can  do  it." 

When  the  room  was  quieted  down,  John  filled  his 
glass  and  held  it  up  to  Toppin  and  drank  it  off,  never 
taking  his  eyes  from  the  other's  face.  Each  time  he 
said  firmly,  "  I  have  said  I  could  do  it,  and  I  will."  All 
the  other's  bravado  slunk  away  under  John's  insistent 
stare. 

Here  was  a  pretty  how-to-do  !  Lufkin,  roaming  rest 
lessly  about  the  room,  could  hardly  believe  his  eyes. 
Was  this  the  quiet  John  Gaunt,  silent  and  self-re 
strained,  whom  he  had  known  from  boyhood  ?  It  went 
to  his  heart  to  see  him  at  such  a  pass.  "  Poor  fellow!  " 
he  muttered,  with  a  doleful  shake  of  his  head.  "  It's  the 
father  coming  out  in  him." 

And  that  is  what  Doctor  Magog  thought  an  hour 
later,  as  he  came  upon  the  noisy  party  on  the  Bromfield 


154  ARROWS   OF   THE   ALMIGHTY 

road,  John  grimly  carrying  an  insensible  figure  slung 
over  his  broad  shoulders,  he  and  Davie  towering  above 
the  rest,  who  were  shouting  and  cheering.  The  doctor, 
too,  shook  his  head,  and  said  sadly,  "  I  feared  as  much." 

At  the  gate  of  the  Troutman  mansion  the  noisy 
party  broke  up,  and  Jack,  very  much  perturbed  in  spirit 
over  the  strange  behavior  of  his  chum,  pushed  his 
friend  into  the  waiting  carriage.  The  fresh  air,  cutting 
against  John's  face  as  they  hurried  on,  raised  him  again 
from  his  lethargy  and  woke  the  wild  blood  in  him.  The 
startled  stable-boy  stared  in  amazement  at  the  sight  of 
the  young  master,  dishevelled  and  askew,  stained  with 
the  conflict,  and  bawling  at  the  top  of  his  voice. 

At  the  stamping  and  the  thundering  from  the  dining 
room,  old  Sol  came  piling  down  the  stairs,  pistol  in  hand, 
and  the  white  eyes  of  Aunt  Liza  were  seen  rolling  in 
horror  from  the  balcony. 

"  Sol,  you  old  villain,  come  here !  "  cried  John,  slap 
ping  down  a  key  on  the  table.  "  Get  wine  —  bring 
wine  —  bring  anything  —  no,  stop!  a  bottle  of  port." 

Jack,  catching  his  arms,  tried  to  reason  with  him ; 
while  Sol,  shocked  out  of  his  slumbers,  still  clutching 
his  pistol,  rocked  f rotn>  one  foot  to  the  other,  his  eyes 
blinking,  his  mouth  gaping,  too  astonished  to  move. 

"  By ,  am  I  to  be  obeyed  ? "  the  young  master 

whipped  out.  Aunt  Liza  gave  a  shriek,  and  like  magic 
a  row  of  shiny  eyes  disappeared  from  the  windows,  and 
Sol,  starting  off  in  fear  of  his  life,  brought  up  the  bottle. 

"  Here  ;  give  me  the  glasses.  There,  there.  To  the 
brim." 

"  I  say,  John.  Come,  that's  enough,"  cried  Jack. 
"Come  to  bed." 

"  One  toast,  Jack ;  one  toast,  Jack,  old  Johnnie  Gay. 
Get  a  glass  for  yourself,  Sol.  A  glass,  I  say  !  And  stop ; 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  155 

come  back — come  right  back  here,  you  old  villain. 
Get  one  for  Liza,  too."  At  this  the  black  figure  gave  a 
howl,  and  ran  off  to  her  room  to  slam  and  double-lock 
the  door. 

John  filled  three  glasses,  and  cried,  "  Here's  confu 
sion  to  woman,  the  enemy  of  man  !" 

Jack  was  in  doubt  whether  to  storm  or  to  laugh.  It 
was  all  so  absurd,  and  Uncle  Sol  cut  such  an  amazing 
figure. 

"  And  now,  John,  to  bed,  like  a  good  fellow.  I'll  bet 
you  can't  walk  up  the  stairs,"  he  added  strategically, 
turning  down  his  glass. 

"  To  bed !  Oh,  no,  no  !  "  John  exclaimed,  looking  at 
him  with  maudlin  cunning.  "  You  want  to  get  me  up 
stairs,  don't  you  ?  Oh,  no,  no;  changed  my  mind,  Jack, 
other  bottle  —  another  bottle,  quick !  Drowns  sorrow, 
Jack.  Come  on  !  Be  a  good  fellow.  We'll  make  a 
night  of  it." 

Jack,  who  was  in  the  last  ditch  of  his  wits,  had  a  sud 
den  thought.  He  filled  a  glass.  "  I  drank  your  toast, 
John.  Here's  mine  :  'To  one  Woman.'  " 

"  Oh,  oh,"  said  John,  with  a  wise  smirk.  "You  old 
Jack  —  you  sly  old  Jack !  So  that's  your  game,  sly  old 
Jack.  Who  is  she  ?  What's  her  name  ? " 

"Your  mother,"  said  Jack,  sternly,  holding  up^his 
glass,  and  fixing  his  eyes  steadily  on  John's.  "  To  your 
mother." 

John  had  his  glass  well  in  the  air.  He  stopped  and 
gave  Jack  one  look.  His  whole  expression  changed. 
He  turned  and  threw  the  glass  upon  the  table,  where  it 
shattered  with  a  crash,  and  scattered  in  every  direction. 
Then  without  a  *word  he  wheeled  and  went  straight  up 
the  stairs,  and  slammed  the  door  of  his  room. 

"  Fo'  de  Lo'd !  wha's  gwine  come  to  Marse  John  ?  " 


i5 6  ARROWS  OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

said  Sol,  a  few  minutes  later,  as  he  tottered  up  the  stairs 
to  Aunt  Liza,  peering  round  the  door. 

"  It's  his  pa's  debilment  in  him,  dat's  what  it  am," 
answered  the  old  mammy,  with  shaking  head.  "  Po' 
marse!"  And  so,  too,  thought  Jack,  as  he  prepared 
for  bed. 


CHAPTER  XVII 

As  the  days  went  by,  Jack  began  to  grow  more  and 
more  anxious.  John  had  taken  up  gambling.  There 
was  scarce  a  night  that  the  walls  of  Windrift  did  not 
ring  to  the  shouts  of  the  revellers.  So  frequent  became 
these  parties,  and  so  prolonged,  that  Jack,  from  sheer 
worry,  lost  his  lightheartedness,  until  even  his  comrades 
began  to  rally  him. 

"  What  the  deuce  is  the  matter  with  the  man  ? "  said 
Jack  to  himself,  and,  having  a  pretty  acute  inkling  as 
to  the  cause,  from  several  hints  dropped  by  John,  he 
determined  to  investigate  for  himself. 

A  few  skilful  questions  at  the  Caxtons'  and  the  Tal- 
bots',  who  had  been  perfectly  well  aware  of  certain 
riding  parties  ;  a  word  from  Doctor  Magog,  who  had  had 
the  truth  from  Uncle  Nim  ;  an  hour's  confidence  with  the 
minister;  a  dozen  inquiries  carelessly  thrown  among 
the  colored  quarters,  and  Jack  soon  arrived  at  the 
correct  solution  of  his  chum's  sudden  plunge  into  wild 
ways. 

As  the  upshot  of  much  meditation,  he  determined  to 
read  the  young  offender  a  severe  curtain  lecture  —  a 
resolution  that  drove  him  to  twirling  his  thumbs  on  the 
garden-seat  in  silent  preparation  ;  for  lecture-giving  was 
not  exactly  in  Johnnie  Gay's  line. 

"Suppose  it  would  sound  better  from  another  quarter," 
he  thought,  scratching  his  head  in  perplexity.  "  But  as 
there  is  no  one  else  —  here  goes." 


158  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

So  that  afternoon  when  John  came  in,  flushed  from 
a  match  which  he  had  won  on  Eli  against  the  pick  of 
the  Troutman  stables,  Jack  with  solemn  face  actually 
attacked  him  in  his  room,  as  he  was  about  to  apply  the 
sponge. 

"John!" 

The  little  fellow  came  to  a  stop  in  the  middle  of  the 
room. 

"Hello?" 

"John,  we've  stuck  together  through  some  pretty 
tough  scrapes,  haven't  we  ?  " 

"  So  we  have." 

This  not  seeming  to  lead  anywhere,  Jack  relapsed, 
sorted  out  the  contents  of  the  table,  scrutinized  the 
walls,  and  made  the  turn  of  the  room. 

"John!" 

"Hello  — hello!" 

"John,  now  look  here.  I've  got  to  say  something  to 
you — and  —  and  I'm  going  to  say  it  right  from  the 
shoulder !  " 

"Well,  fire  away!"  consented  John,  with  a  smile  at 
his  manner,  suspecting  what  was  coming. 

"  Now,  that's  just  like  you,  John  Gaunt,"  burst  out 
Jack,  smarting  under  the  other's  smile.  "  Because  I 
prefer  to  laugh  and  make  merry,  you  choose  never  to 
take  me  seriously.  I  am  your  closest  friend.  I 
shouldn't  be  doing  my  duty  by  you  if  I  didn't  talk  to 
you,  and  listen  you  shall !  " 

"  I  know  what  you're  going  to  say,"  John  put  in,  with 
a  grimace.  "  Well,  go  on." 

"I  am  going  to  say  to  you,"  cried  Jack,  excitedly, 
getting  on  his  feet,  "  that  you  ought  to  be  thoroughly 
ashamed  of  yourself  —  yes,  ashamed !  —  I  have  said  it. 
And  it's  not  my  idea  of  John  Gaunt  to  see  you  crying 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  159 

out  when  you're  hit.  No,  I  say  it  isn't.  I  know  what 
the  matter  is,"  he  added,  speaking  more  rapidly — "  never 
mind  how  I  found  out  —  and  I  tell  you,  you're  not  the 
first  one  who's  got  in  trouble  over  a  woman,  and  has 
had  to  bear  it.  Come,  be  a  man,  John,  grit  your 
teeth." 

"  Stop  !  "  broke  out  John.  "  I  don't  know  how  you 
found  out  what  you  did.  I  don't  care.  Let  that  go. 
But  when  you  choose  to  upbraid  me  and  call  me  hard 
names,  I  want  you  to  know  the  facts.  I  didn't  expect 
this  of  you,  Jack;  it's  mighty  unkind,  if  I  do  say  it." 

"  Hang  it,  John,  you  don't  know  how  badly  I've  felt 
about  you,"  J'ack  stammered,  floundering  instantly.  "  I 

—  I  couldn't  bear  to  see  you  flinging  yourself  away,  old 
fellow.     Now  don't  say  that.     Come,  I  say,  John  —  for 
give  me.     Hang  it,  I  don't  mean  that,  I  mean  —  hang 
it  if  I  know  what  I  do  mean." 

"  H'm."  John  drew  out  a  letter  and  stretched  it  to 
him.  "  I  think  you'll  understand  when  you  read  that 

—  came  this  morning." 

A  black  look  settled  over  his  face,  and  turning  his 
back,  he  walked  to  the  window,  where  he  waited, 
drumming  on  the  pane. 

Jack  hurriedly  slipped  out  the  letter  and  glanced  at 
the  end.  "No  signature,  eh ?  Anonymous  letter  — 
handwriting  disguised  —  bad,  always  bad.  Now  for  it." 

"JOHN  GAUNT,  ESQUIRE, — 

"  Honored  Sir :  I  entreat  you  to  read  honestly  what  I  have  to  write. 
I  know  the  fate  of  anonymous  letters,  but  believe  me,  there  are  cir 
cumstances  which  do  not  allow  me  to  sign  my  name.  I  have  never 
met  you,  or  I  would  have  delivered  this  warning  in  person.  You  have 
in  your  household  an  advetiturer,  purporting  to  call  himself  Ned  Brace. 
This  man  I  know  to  a  certainty  has  many  aliases,  one  of  which  is 
Roger  Westlake.  I  cannot  give  you  his  real  name,  as  I  have  never 
been  able  to  discover  it.  Without  telling  you  the  reason  why  I 


i6o  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

have  cause  to  regret  the  acquaintance  of  Roger  Westlake,  alias 
Captain  Brace,  I  simply  beg  you  to  convince  yourself  of  his  true  char 
acter.  Make  investigations  as  to  the  security  oiyour  estate,  of  which 
I  understand  he  is  the  guardian.  Knowing  his  true  character,  I  fear 
for  the  result.  Do  not  neglect  this.  Make  your  inquiries  with 
caution  and  the  greatest  secrecy,  for  Westlake  is  a  damned  clever 
man." 

"  Hello,  seven  words  underlined,  and  a  damn,"  Jack 
muttered,  glancing  over  it  curiously.  "  Evidently  a 
woman.  Captain  has  an  enemy.  Well  ? " 

John  turned  from  the  window  and  came  back,  saying 
slowly,  "  Jack,  I  don't  feel  as  though  I  could  ever  trust 
another  human  being — I  never  doubted  that  man." 

"  Good  God ! "  Jack  landed  on  his  feet,  the  whole 
situation  crashing  in  upon  him  like  a  clap  of  thunder. 
"  It  isn't  true  ?  Good  God,  John,  say  it  isn't  true !  " 

"The  worst  is,  it's  only  half  true.  I  don't  know  to 
what  extent  he  has  robbed  me.  He  has  gone  off  with  the 
account  at  the  Bromfield  bank.  I  have  telegraphed  to 
Baltimore  and  Philadelphia  —  I  shall  know  to-night  or  to 
morrow.  It  isn't  that" — his  voice  broke — "but — but — " 
Jack  came  quickly  to  his  side  and  laid  a  hand  on  his  arm 
—  "  it's  my  mother,  Jack.  I  have  seen  Aunt  Liza  and 
Sol  and  Israel,  and  made  them  talk.  They  were  frightened 
to  death  of  him — feared  him  like  the  devil  himself.  I  know 
it  all  now.  Before  he  came,  my  father  was  fighting  his 
best  against  that  habit,  Jack.  What  do  you  think  that 
villain  did?  He  used  to  egg  him  on,  used  to  get  the 
drug  for  him,  kept  him  gambling  night  and  day,  and  all 
the  time  pretended  to  be  his  friend.  Liza  told  me  —  all 
the  servants  knew  it,  and — and  so  did  my  mother.  What's 
more,  he  cheated  him  at  the  last  —  that  sum  he  won  and 
got  me  to  pay.  Israel  saw  it,  and  Jonah,  from  the  bal 
cony.  They  suspected  him.  That's  what  killed  my 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  161 

mother,  Jack.  Oh,  the  cursed,  black-hearted  villain ! 
I'd  give  it  all  to  get  my  hands  around  his  neck." 

"  Good  God  !  Good  God !  "  exclaimed  Jack,  pacing  the 
floor  in  horror,  the  perspiration  showing  on  his  forehead. 
"  Oh,  this  is  awful,  awful,  John !  Why  didn't  you  throw 
me  out  the  window  when  I  spoke  to  you  as  I  did  ? " 

"  Because  I  didn't  care."  He  sank  dejectedly  into  a 
chair,  pulling  his  lip.  "  Because  I  don't  care  that  what 
becomes  of  me.  I  was  badly  enough  knocked  up  before 
about  a  woman  who  played  with  me.  You  were  right 
there.  Now  I  have  faith  in  neither  man  nor  woman." 
He  sprang  up  suddenly  as  Jack  was  passing  and  caught 
and  wheeled  him  about  by  the  shoulders.  "  Here,  how 
do  I  know  that  even  you  won't  deceive  me  some  day  ? " 

"  John  Gaunt !  John  Gaunt !  "  burst  out  Jack,  crimson 
with  shame.  "  Oh,  how  despicable  —  how  cowardly  —  " 

"  Don't,  Jack,"  cried  John,  dropping  back  into  the  chair, 
"don't  hit  me  when  I'm  down.  I  don't  know  what 
I'm  saying  —  forgive  me." 

"  Of  course  you  don't,"  said  Jack,  running  up  eagerly, 
and  squeezing  his  hand.  "  Don't  I  know  just  how  you 
feel,  old  fellow  ?  " 

"  After  what  I  have  said,"  said  John,  passing  his  hand 
across  his  forehead,  "  I  wonder  that  you  don't  leave  me 
at  once.  Perhaps  it  would  be  for  the  best.  Leave  me 
to  go  my  own  way,  Jack.  I  don't  think  it  will  be  long, 
and  I  —  I  —  don't  care  much." 

"John,"  said  the  little  fellow,  drawing  off  and  look 
ing  down  at  his  friend  with  tears  in  his  eyes,  "  I  do  want 
to  say  something  to  help  you,  but  hang  it,  I  don't  know 
how.  I'm  not  used  to  it —  I  have  always  relied  on  you. 
What  shall  I  say  —  what  shall  I  say  to  you  ?  "  Suddenly 
he  stopped  in  his  course  and  laid  a  hand  on  his  friend's 
shoulder.  "  See  here,  John,  the  best  thing  I  can  say  is  this 


i6a  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

— you're  a  man,  and  you're  game.  You  don't  cry  out  when 
you're  hit  I've  heard  how  you  fought  once.  Yes,  I  think 
I  know  you  better  than  you  do  yourself.  You've  got  a 
hard  situation  to  face,  —  yes,  a  damned  hard  situation,  — 
and  many  a  man  would  go  under.  But  you  won't,  John 
Gaunt;  you  won't,  because  you  are  John  Gaunt.  Do 
you  hear  me?"  In  his  vehemence  he  shook  him 
sharply  by  the  shoulder.  "  Did  I  cry  out  when  the 
faculty  chucked  me?  You  didn't  think  I  liked  it, 
did  you  ?  You're  not  the  only  one,  John,  to  grin  and 
bear  things.  I  —  I've  never  spoken  of  myself  —  I  can't 
just  now,  but  I  will  some  day  —  but  I  say,  I've  had  a 
pretty  hard  pull  of  it  myself.  And  I  think,  John,  it's 
not  because  of  the  trials  we  have  to  bear,  —  we  all  have 
those,  — but  for  the  way  we  bear  them,  that  we  deserve 
sympathy.  One  woman  deceived  you,  John,  but  remem 
ber  the  other.  And  though  one  friend  has  turned  out  a 
villain,  why,  John,  here's  another  that'll  stick  to  you 
through  thick  and  thin."  He  held  out  his  hand,  and 
added,  "Come,  John,  promise  me  one  thing,  that  — 
that  you  won't  do  anything  desperate." 

John  looked  up,  tried  to  smile,  and  dropped  his  head 
again ;  then  nodded,  and  silently  gripped  the  prof 
fered  hand,  and  there  the  lecture  ended. 

Supper  over,  they  swung  into  their  saddles.  As  they 
were  riding  slowly,  that  Jonah  might  open  the  terrace 
gate,  John  turned,  and  said,  "Jack,  you  have  shamed 
me,  you  have  roused  me  out  of  myself.  I  will  grit  my 
teeth.  God  bless  you !  " 

They  rode  off  to  Bromfield  for  news,  Jack  in  such 
high  feather  that  you  would  have  thought  he  was  going 
to  hear  of  a  legacy. 

"Wait  outside,  Jack,"  said  John,  when  they  had  reined 
in  bef  ore  Judge  Wellyn's,  "I  shall  only  be  a  few  moments." 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  163 

Ten,  fifteen,  twenty  minutes,  dragged  out,  and  still  he 
did  not  come.  Doctor  Magog's  smart  sulky  and  Uncle 
Nim's  equipage  from  Brewster's  were  also  in  wait ;  it 
was  evident  that  a  conference  of  John's  friends  was  go 
ing  on  inside.  From  where  Jack  sat  he  could  look  in 
through  the  brilliant  windows.  Several  times  he  saw 
Doctor  Magog  pass,  shaking  his  head  with  gestures  of 
anger.  Presently  John's  strong  figure  loomed  up  in  front, 
and  then  Uncle  Nim  came  up  and  placed  his  hand  on 
the  young  fellow's  shoulder  and  began  to  talk  to  him 
earnestly.  Sometimes  their  voices  rose  so  high  that 
Jack  could  almost  distinguish  the  words. 

"I  hope  everything  isn't  gone,"  he  said;  "if  it  is,  I 
don't  know  what  will  become  of  him." 

All  at  once  the  little  knot  at  the  window  separated, 
and  the  door  opening,  John  came  tramping  down  the 
path.  Jack's  courage  sank. 

"  It's  coming  now,"  he  said.  An  unreasoning  impulse 
rushed  over  him  to  turn  the  horse  and  gallop  away ;  to 
escape  from  what  he  was  going  to  hear. 

The  next  instant  John  was  at  his  side,  with  a  hand  on 
his  knee,  saying,  "Well,  Jack,  I've  heard.  It's  all  gone, 
and  I'm  a  beggar,  with  hardly  a  cent  in  the  world,  and  I 
say,  Thank  God !  " 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

THERE  is  only  one  thing  consistent  in  human  nature, 
—  its  inconsistency.  When,  on  the  death  of  his  father, 
John  had  finally  realized  that  the  gloom  of  his  boyhood 
was  not  to  be  lifted,  unwilling  to  admit  that  the  trouble 
lay  within  himself,  he  had  sought  for  outward  causes  for 
his  melancholy.  If  it  were  not  his  father,  what  was  it  ? 
The  conviction  had  settled  upon  him  that  only  in  escape 
from  his  home  could  he  be  rid  of  the  black  pursuing 
shadow.  If  he  stayed,  he  thought,  with  a  shudder,  that 
some  day  he  must  fall  into  the  dire  inheritance.  In  the 
dread  of  succumbing  to  such  a  moral  decline,  he  had 
made  a  resolution  —  on  the  day  of  his  majority  he  would 
turn  his  back  on  the  place  forever,  escape  to  a  new 
environment,  and  start  life  anew  where  the  air  was  not 
poisoned  by  such  inexorable  memories.  So  the  dis 
covery  of  his  beggary,  instead  of  proving  the  climax  of 
John's  sorrows,  was  in  reality  the  saving  stroke.  It 
broke  at  one  blow  all  the  chains  that  held  him  down. 
It  left  him  penniless  on  the  mercy  of  the  world  and  to 
the  test  of  his  own  wits ;  but  it  left  him  free. 

"  Thank  God,  thank  God ! "  he  broke  out  impetu 
ously,  as  they  rode  home  in  the  night,  Jonah  clattering 
behind.  "  Don't  you  see,  Jack,  it  sets  me  free.  It  was 
inactivity  that  was  driving  me  crazy.  I  can  carve  my 
own  way  —  I  can  begin  at  the  beginning,  and  show  what 
I  can  do.  It  is  the  making  of  me;  I  know  it  —  I  feel 
it  —  do  you  hear?" 

164 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  165 

Jack,  who  was  too  overcome  with  amazement  to  reply, 
contented  himself  with  a  prolonged  whistle  in  the  wind. 

"  The  scoundrel  has  run  off  with  everything,"  con 
tinued  John,  his  voice  ringing.  "  What's  more,  there  is 
a  heavy  mortgage  on  the  place.  My  father  negotiated 
it  last  year  to  make  some  investments.  We  shall  have 
to  sell  the  place  to  clear  it,  and  what  is  over  goes  to 
me,  but  it  won't  be  much.  Judge  Wellyn  is  to  arrange 
for  the  sale  as  soon  as  possible.  Then  you  and  I'll 
start  out  west  together.  They  say  that  there  are  good 
openings  at  Cleveland." 

"  What  a  queer  chap  you  are !  "  growled  Jack.  "  I 
don't  think  I  shall  ever  get  to  understand  you.  Here 
you  come  bobbing  up  gayly  when  I  thought  you'd  be 
floored  flat  —  sort  of  expected  to  tote  you  home,  you 
know.  I  say,  though,  I  was  deuced  cut  up  about  you 
this  afternoon." 

"You  see,  Jack,"  answered  John,  with  an  attempt  to 
laugh  down  the  other's  remarks,  "  ambition  is  the  real 
motive  of  a  man's  life,  and  if  he  can't  be  forging  ahead, 
why,  he  runs  to  seed,  or  something  worse.  I'm  on  my 
mettle,  now —  I've  got  to  earn  my  own  bread  ;  I've  got 
to  show  what  stuff  I'm  made  of.  It  touches  my  pride, 
you  see.  But  one  thing,  Jack — I'm  through  with 
women !  Thank  heaven,  I've  learned  my  lesson,  and 
learned  it  early.  As  for  men,  my  motto  shall  be,  'In 
business  trust  no  man.'  ' 

"  I  say,  John,  isn't  that  going  a  bit  too  far  ? "  put 
in  Jack,  who  began  to  see  the  sting  underneath  all  the 
bravado.  John  gave  a  laugh  —  he  wasn't  through  yet. 
"Jack,  you  don't  know  the  world  —  lucky  fellow! 
Everything  is  selfish  —  the  struggle  for  existence.  It's 
your  wits  against  every  one  else's.  Play  the  game,  my 
boy,  according  to  the  rules,  but  know  whom  you're 


1 66  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

playing  with,  and  don't  be  deceived  by  platitudes.  I 
can  almost  forgive  that  villain  for  the  good  he  has 
done  me  in  opening  my  eyes.  My  eyes  are  open — • 
I  shall  win,  my  boy,  because  from  this  day  I  shall  put 
faith  in  neither  man  nor  woman.  I'm  going  to  be 
selfish,  like  other  people.  It  doesn't  make  me  any  the 
worse  to  be  honest  about  it.  I  am  going  to  fight  a 
selfish,  hard  fight  —  there !  " 

Jack  was  quite  taken  aback  by  the  bitter  ring  in  his 
voice.  "  Look  here  —  if  I  thought  you  meant  a  tenth 
of  the  abominable  stuff  you've  been  spouting,  John 
Gaunt,  I'd  be  tempted  to  give  you  a  good  sound 
thrashing,  for  all  your  size.  But  you  don't  —  you  know 
you  don't  — it's  all  talk;  "  and  Jack  reflected  to  himself 
that  perhaps  it  was  just  as  well  that  John's  savage 
humor  should  evaporate  in  that  way. 

"Well,  perhaps  I  don't,"  said  John,  with  another 
laugh.  "  I  never  know  what  I  mean,  or  what  I'll  do 
next.  Does  any  one  really  know  his  true  self,  I  wonder  ? " 

"  Oh,  I  say,"  said  Jack,  in  positive  alarm,  "  be  quiet 
there.  That's  enough  for  one  night." 

John  laughed  for  the  third  time  —  they  were  home 
now  —  and  said,  with  a  long  breath,  "Well,  Johnnie 
Gay,  I  reckon  I'll  sleep  sounder  to-night  than  I  expected." 

"  Hang  it ! "  replied  Jack,  slipping  under  his  arm, 
"don't  you  think  /  shall?" 

Now  that  the  news  of  John's  misfortune  had  spread 
abroad,  it  was  really  astonishing  how  many  people  had 
long  suspected  the  swindler.  Lufkin  and  Colonel  Spott 
were  the  heroes  of  every  gathering.  Dr.  Magog,  who 
prudently  shunned  the  colonel,  confessed  in  private  that 
he  had  long  been  troubled  with  qualms  —  a  certain  look 
in  the  eyes ;  "  Cousin  Bob  "  Troutman,  whom  Captain 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  167 

Brace  had  terribly  bitten  at  tcarti,  inflated  his  cheeks  and 
vowed  in  his  piping  voice  that  he  had  scented  a  sharper 
from  that  very  minute ;  upon  his  soul,  no  honest  man 
could  have  so  defeated  him.  Pretty  soon  it  began  to  be 
rumored,  at  first  in  stray  hints,  and  then  in  a  storm  of 
testimony,  that  John  was  not  the  sole  victim.  Caxton 
had  loaned  the  captain  a  large  sum ;  his  reckonings  at 
the  White  Horse  and  the  Seven  Oaks  mounted  to  three 
figures ;  worse  and  worse,  he  had  been  made  the  execu 
tor  of  numerous  small  wills,  while  others  had  intrusted 
money  to  him  for  investments.  It  soon  appeared  that 
at  the  last  the  captain  had  gone  off,  making  as  clean 
a  sweep  as  though  he  had  led  in  a  company  of  free 
booters  and  sacked  the  county.  Searches,  investiga 
tions,  clews  —  all  were  alike  futile.  He  had  disappeared 
as  completely  as  though  the  earth  had  opened  and 
swallowed  him  up. 

The  notice  of  sale  of  "  Windrift  arid  properties  "  was 
posted  in  the  villages  round  about,  and  published  in 
the  city  papers.  For  a  week  before  the  auction  the 
place  swarmed  with  prospective  buyers,  punching  the 
cattle,  calculating  the  crops,  and  examining  the  furniture; 
some  professional  gentlemen  from  Baltimore,  with  little 
note-books,  jotting  down  figures,  for  the  estate  was  famed 
and  historic.  It  brought  a  queer  feeling  to  John  to 
see  these  intruders  overrunning  the  garden  and  shuffling 
noisily  along  the  corridors,  prying  among  the  orchards 
and  ferreting  in  the  stables.  He  used  to  rise  early 
and  gallop  over  to  Bromfield  or  to  The  Willows  to 
dine  with  Uncle  Nim,  returning  at  six,  that  he  might 
escape  the  curious.  Yet  he  vowed  again  and  again  to 
Jack  that  he  was  glad  the  place  was  gone  under  the 
hammer,  that  its  memories  were  too  bitter,  too  gloomy, 


168  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

to  call  it  home.  Outwardly,  at  least,  he  appeared  in* 
sensible,  exhibiting  only  restlessness  and  impatience  to 
have  the  thing  done,  and  to  be  off. 

On  Monday  the  stage-coach  deposited  at  the  door  a 
tall,  lanky  personage  in  black,  shining  clothes,  with 
a  high,  bald  forehead,  somewhat  concealed  by  a  wisp 
of  hair,  which  was  worn  after  the  style  of  a  well-known 
Corsican.  With  him  were  two  stout,  rolling  assistants, 
addressed  as  Toby  and  Frank.  The  gentleman,  who  at 
first  sight  might  have  been  mistaken  for  an  undertaker, 
was  in  reality  the  auctioneer,  Mr.  Belsham  of  Phila 
delphia  and  Baltimore.  Toby  handed  down  the  bag 
gage  and  passed  Feeter  the  fare,  while  his  chief,  without 
any  sign  of  moving  upon  the  house,  proceeded  to  scruti 
nize  the  grounds,  enumerating  to  his  assistants  the  details 
which  pleased  him  most,  punctuating  his  remarks  by  ges 
tures  with  a  toothpick,  which  at  such  times  he  removed 
from  his  mouth. 

"Elegant  grounds,  Toby,"  began  the  knight  of  the 
hammer ;  "  sweeping  meadows,  bashful  brooks,  stately 
avenues,  commodious  terrace,  historic  mansion  —  good 
working-place,  Toby." 

"  Better'n  that  there  last  place  of  ourn,"  said  Toby, 
with  an  oath. 

"  So  it  is,"  Belsham  replied,  nodding  with  satisfaction. 
Then,  having  completed  his  survey,  he  advanced,  and 
gave  the  young  fellows  a  profound  sweep  of  his  tile. 

"Good  morning,  gentlemen.  Mr.  Gaunt,  I  take  it? 
Ah,  you,  sir.  Am  delighted  to  meet  you  —  hops'  to  be 
of  assistance  —  my  lieutenants,  Toby  and  Frank." 

Uncle  Sol  carried  off  the  pair.  John  inclined  his 
head  stiffly,  but  Jack,  scenting  an  original,  ran  down  at 
once  and  shook  his  hand. 

"  It's  lucky  for  you,  gentlemen,  I  came  early,"  con- 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  169 

tinued  the  auctioneer,  with  urbanity.  "  We  have  only 
a  day  before  us,  but  we  can  do  much.  I  noticed  three 
spots  where  the  fences  were  down  as  I  drove  up.  We 
must  fix  that  up,  sir,  right  away.  I  see  you  have  given 
the  house  and  stables  a  coat  of  paint  lately  —  very  good 
—  excellent !  but  the  chicken-house  and  dog  kennels 
have  been  skipped;  we  must  touch  them  up,  too,  sir. 
There's  nothing  succeeds  like  trimness — well-ordered 
estate — everything  in  repair  —  makes  a  difference  of 
ten  per  cent.  And  what  does  it  cost  ?  A  little  carpen 
tering,  a  daub  of  paint  —  and  there  you  are.  It's  a  trick 
of  the  profession.  If  the  Morrisons,  my  last  clients,  had 
listened  to  me,  sir,  they'd  be  in  pocket  a  thousand  more, 
let  me  tell  you.  Hope  you  won't  neglect  these  little 
touches,  Mr.  Gaunt." 

Jack  listened,  all  ears,  but  John  strode  away,  saying 
rather  gloomily  :  "  Do  what  you  wish.  Mr.  Hazard 
will  take  charge." 

"  Ah,  Mr.  Hazard,"  Belsham  began  gravely,  perform 
ing  on  a  large  bandanna.  "  Call  up  your  niggers,  and 
we'll  get  down  to  work.  These  halls,  now.  Dust  'em 
and  scrub  'em  up  thoroughly.  Furniture  ?  Rub  it 
down,  and  polish  it  up.  Everything  must  be  spick  and 
span.  We  must  station  a  nigger  at  the  door,  watch 
the  mat,  make  every  one  wipe  their  feet.  That 
always  has  a  fine  effect  in  a  mansion  —  imposes,  awes, 
reduces  to  proper  respect.  No  levity  during  sale." 

"  Mr.  Belsham,  I  bow  to  your  wisdom,"  said  Jack, 
with  a  confidential  wink. 

"  Thank  you,  sir.  And  now,  Mr.  Hazard,  if  you'll  have 
the  kindness  to  conduct  me,  I'll  make  my  inspection,  and 
arrange  the  campaign.  You  know  we  gentlemen  of  my 
profession  always  feel  as  though  we  owned  the  grounds 
until  the  sale  is  over — while  we  are  at  the  helm,  you  know." 


170  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

"  Of  course,  and  very  naturally,"  Jack  chimed  in. 
"  And,  being  the  captain,  Mr.  Belsham,  —  ahem  !  —  you 
understand  —  the  —  captain  commands  the  cellar !  Now, 
just  a  cooling  glass,  eh,  Captain  ?  " 

"  You  catch  my  meaning  admirably,"  responded  Bel- 
sham,  with  an  approving  wink.  "  A  little  refreshment 
does  certainly  stimulate  the  imagination." 

When  Jack,  thoroughly  delighted,  had  brought  the 
bottle,  Belsham  measured  out  his  glass,  saying  wisely  as 
he  topped  off  Mr.  Hazard's  health  :  — 

"  I  know  all  about  the  trouble  here.  Edward  Brace, 
alias  Roger  Westlake,  alias,  alias  —  real  name  sup 
posed  to  be  Roger  Clieve — bad  egg,  thoroughly  bad  egg. 
There  are  a  dozen  counts  out  against  him  in  the  city. 
Seems  to  have  been  a  taking  one  with  the  women,  sir  — 
generally  the  case.  And  now  to  business.  Point  one : 
air  bracing  —  enlarge  on  health.  Point  two:  garden 
famous,  pearl  of  the  Eastern  Shore.  Point  three :  house 
historic  —  good  point,  that.  Sentiment  and  tradition 
goes  a  long  way.  Too  many  is  apt  to  neglect  'em.  I 
never  do.  I  take  my  art  seriously,  Mr.  Hazard." 

"  And  the  sentiment  does  you  great  honor,  sir,"  as 
sented  Jack. 

"  Now,  Mr.  Hazard,  say  we  look  round.  Anything 
broken  ?  Damaged  ?  Shabby  on  one  side  ?  Or  one 
side  better  than  the  other?  Show  me  around,  and  I'll 
tip  Toby  the  wink.  There's  another  point :  any  one  can 
sell  a  person  what  he  wants.  It  takes  genius,  say  I,  to 
sell  him  what  he  don't  want.  To  be  frank  with  you, 
sir,  I  won't  disguise  from  you  that  you  can't  hope  to 
realize  what  the  place  is  worth ;  never  can,  when  you 
sell  in  a  hurry.  Remember  that.  People  will  suspect. 
But  you've  fallen  in  good  hands,,  and  that's  in  your 
favor.  Ah  !  this  way  to  the  outhouses,  sir.  After  you." 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  171 

Jack,  who  asked  nothing  better  than  to  revel  in  such 
company,  stuck  to  Belsham  throughout  the  day,  but  John, 
who  had  taken  a  dislike  to  "  the  king-buzzard  of  all  the 
flock,"  as  he  savagely  termed  him,  kept  out  of  their  way. 
He  was  busy  running  over  his  affairs,  deciding  what  to 
put  aside,  and  what  to  send  under  the  hammer.  He 
kept  his  mother's  portrait,  a  few  of  her  trinkets,  a  me 
dallion  or  so,  and  her  rings,  and  at  last,  after  much 
hesitation,  added  his  father's  watch  and  the  heavy  gold 
seals. 

"  It  doesn't  seem  like  a  home,  Jack,"  he  began 
gloomily,  that  night.  "  It's  more  like  a  cage  from 
which  I'm  escaping.  I  have  no  sentiment  about  it.  It's 
a  shackle  that  holds  me  back  to  the  past.  It  cramps 
me.  I  want  to  be  free  to  go  where  I'll  never  see  that 
cursed  wall,  and  know  what's  beyond.  There,  now; 
you  know  the  truth."  He  stopped  suddenly,  startled, 
himself,  at  his  outburst  of  confidence,  and  then  added 
doggedly  :  "  Do  you  think  I'm  going  to  play  the  hypo 
crite,  and  weep?  I'm  glad  I'm  leaving.  I'm  glad  I 
shall  never  have  to  see  it  again.  I  shall  go  away  to 
morrow,  and  stay  away  until  the  cursed  thing  is  over." 

But  despite  all  his  resolutions,  the  next  morning  he 
had  gone  no  farther  than  the  Caxton  woods,  when  he 
jerked  Eli  sharply  about  and  made  for  home. 

The  stables  were  packed  with  vehicles,  and  it  seemed 
as  though  there  was  a  cluster  of  them  under  each  tree. 
The  negroes  were  laughing  and  calling  on  the  terraces, 
the  rooms  were  hot  with  people.  Every  one  he  knew 
was  there — the  Talbots,the  Caxtons,  the  Troutmans,  Doc 
tor  Magog,  Uncle  Nim  and  Aunt  Hester,  Colonel  Spott 
and  his  daughters,  even  Lufkin,  from  the  Bull's  Eye. 
John  went  quietly  down  the  hall,  aware  that  every  one 
turned  as  he  entered,  and  stood  in  a  corner  on  the  edge 


172  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

of  the  crowd.  From  where  he  was  he  could  see  Bel- 
sham  over  the  heads  of  the  crowd,  laughing  and 
spouting  away,  and  Toby  and  Frank  handing  up  the 
merchandise.  Article  after  article  went  its  sing-song 
course ;  the  family  silver,  the  old  piano,  the  mahogany 
furniture  from  his  mother's  room  —  the  dining-room 
table,  the  portrait  by  Sir  Joshua,  and  the  Boydell  en 
gravings  —  all  to  the  tune  of  "  going,  going,  gone," 
while  Belsham,  the  soul  of  good-humor,  rattled  away, 
cracking  his  jokes  and  drawing  a  laugh  over  the  oldest 
mementos  of  John's  childhood. 

"  How  like  an  undertaker  the  fellow  looks !  "  he  said 
to  Jack,  who  came  and  stood  by  his  side.  "  Every  time 
he  brings  his  hammer  down  it  sounds  as  though  he  were 
nailing  a  coffin !  Ugh !  Will  the  business  never  be 
over  ?  and  why  the  devil  do  people  keep  glancing  over 
at  me  ? " 

It  ended  at  last.  The  rooms,  so  lately  thronged, 
noisy,  and  hot  with  the  breath  of  people,  were  empty, 
and  the  barns  and  the  yards  and  the  terraces.  Even  Bel- 
sham  had  run  off  to  catch  another  engagement.  Only 
Judge  Wellyn  and  Doctor  Magog  lingered  to  cast  up 
the  sale. 

"  There,  the  mortgage  is  covered  !  "  the  judge  called 
out  at  length,  "  and  John,  there  is  something  over  for 
you." 

John,  who  had  been  restlessly  treading  the  length  of 
the  hall,  looked  up  and  asked,  "  How  much  ? " 

The  amount  was  read  off. 

"  My  father  left  the  sum  of  three  hundred  dollars  to 
Aunt  Liza,  and  directed  me  to  free  her  when  I  came  of 
age.  I  have  done  that.  The  nurse  of  my  mother, 
at  least,  shall  be  provided  for.  Subtract  that  sum  and 
tell  me  what  is  left." 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  173 

"  Seven  hundred  and  twenty-odd  dollars,"  said  Doc 
tor  Magog. 

"  I  understand,  Judge  Wellyn,  I  cannot  legally  touch 
that  sura  until  six  months  from  now,  when  I  come  of 
age.  I  am  going  to  leave  to-morrow ;  I  must  have  some 
money.  Will  you  lend  me  six  hundred  dollars,  sir,  if  I 
give  you  my  note  of  hand  in  exchange  ?  " 

"  I  reckon  so,  John,"  replied  the  judge,  a  gentleman 
of  the  old  school.  "  On  one  condition,  sir,  that  I  lend 
it  to  you,  sir,  simply  on  your  word." 

At  this  John  flushed  with  pleasure,  and  for  the  first 
time  his  face  softened  a  bit. 

"  And  now,"  cried  Doctor  Magog,  slipping  his  arm 
through  John's,  "you  and  Jack  come  home  with  me  and 
spend  the  night." 

"  Thank  you,  Doctor,  I  think  I'll  stay  at  home."  The 
gentlemen  looked  a  little  awkward  at  the  word.  "  I 
mean,  I'll  stay  here,  my  last  night.  There  are  other 
things  —  some  things  I  must  do.  Good-by,  and  thank 
you."  So  saying,  he  saw  them  to  the  steps  and  shook 
hands  silently  twice  again. 

It  was  already  long  after  seven.  Tea  over,  a  scant 
meal,  he  stole  away  to  the  stables  to  rub  his  hand  affec 
tionately  over  Eli's  cheek,  and  say  good-by  to  blind  old 
Puff.  Now  that  it  was  all  over,  and  he  was  a  stranger 
in  his  own  home  —  home  no  longer  —  he  felt  fearfully 
adrift.  He  passed  down  into  the  garden,  slowly  pacing 
the  long  sward,  then  turning  up  each  alley,  along  Lover's 
Lane,  past  the  rose  bushes  and  the  bower  under  the 
lilacs,  seeking  each  path,  each  bush,  each  flower,  fraught 
with  one  dear  memory  —  for  the  last  time,  he  thought. 
It  was  growing  so  dark  that  objects  began  to  fade  before 
his  eyes.  He  felt  strangely,  terribly  alone,  as  a  little 


174  ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

child  might  feel.  He  passed  on  to  the  garden-seat 
and  touched  with  his  finger-tips  the  Painted  Ladies 
swinging  over  the  back,  where  a  hundred  times  he  had 
surprised  his  mother  sitting  wistfully  in  the  twilight. 
"  And  this  is  the  end ! "  he  thought,  with  a  sudden 
revulsion.  "  Oh,  God,  if  I  could  only  bring  her  back !  " 

A  little  later  Jack,  who  had  grown  anxious  over  his 
continued  absence,  started  down  the  path.  Suddenly 
he  stopped  short.  There,  before  the  garden-seat,  flung 
on  his  knees,  his  head  on  his  arms,  motionless,  almost 
unseen  in  the  dusk,  was  John. 

"  Dear  old  boy,"  thought  Jack,  as  he  withdrew  softly ; 
"  I  don't  think  I  need  worry  over  him,  after  that." 

The  sun  was  not  yet  up  on  the  morrow,  when  Tom 
Feeter  came  cracking  up  the  turn  with  Moses  and 
Aaron.  Jack  ran  out  and  bustled  over  the  baggage, 
and  presently  down  came  John,  followed  by  Aunt 
Liza,  who  was  clutching  his  hand,  the  tears  bathing 
her  checks  as  she  begged  him  to  « take  her  along. 
John  shook  his  head,  said  something  low  to  the  old 
woman,  at  which  she  began  to  sob,  but  she  made  no 
further  attempt  to  hold  him.  He  drew  his  hand  gently 
away,  and  the  next  moment  he  was  on  the  top.  Jack 
touched  the  coachman's  arm,  and  they  drove  rapidly 
round  the  gravel  turn,  through  the  terrace  gate,  and 
along  the  avenue.  The  sun  was  coming  up  over  the 
bay,  the  buzzards  were  swooping  in  great  curves  over 
head,  the  sheep  were  starting  out  to  pasture.  It  was 
just  like  any  other  day. 

At  the  turnpike  Doctor  Magog  met  them  and  gave 
them  his  blessing,  and  a  little  later  up  came  Uncle  Nim 
and  Aunt  Hester.  A  hand-shake,  some  words  of  part 
ing,  a  flutter  of  something  white,  and  they  too  fell 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  175 

behind.  A  quarter  of  a  mile  farther  they  met  the 
post  —  Andrew  Brook  —  who  waved  a  cheery  farewell. 
How  was  John  to  know  that  in  the  brown  leather  mail- 
bag  under  the  seat  of  that  sulky  lay  a  small  letter 
addressed  to  •  him  with  the  inscription,  "  Return  to 
Miss  Helen  Dare,  Box  427,  Philadelphia,  if  not  called 
for  in  three  days  "  ?  The  letter  lay  at  Belle  River  the 
requisite  time,  and  then  reverted  to  its  writer.  How 
was  John  to  know  that  in  that  letter  was  the  message 
he  had  waited  for,  —  ay,  despite  all  protestations, — 
longed  for  ?  Who  knows,  but  for  the  accident  of  time, 
what  might  have  been  the  sequel  ? 

The  post  was  gone  long  ago ;  the  Caxton  woods,  the 
Troutmans'  and  the  Talbots,'  were  left  behind.  The 
horses  began  to  clatter  over  the  county  bridge,  into 
the  full  blaze  of  the  stretching  bay.  The  white  caps 
were  gleaming  in  the  churn  of  the  tide,  the  storm  gulls 
were  sweeping  the  crests  with  their  wings,  and  beyond 
the  far  meadows  shone  a  splash  of  white  roofs  among 
the  trees.  Feeter,  wondering  at  John's  abstraction,  at 
last  pulled  him  gently  by  the  sleeve,  saying,  "  Look, 
John,  it's  the  last  glimpse  of  Windrift." 


CHAPTER   XIX 

ON  a  certain  Sabbath  in  September  of  the  year  1860, 
the  sun  had  been  shining  for  several  hours  over  the 
streets  of  Cleveland,  when  Mrs.  Bushrod  Wingate,  wife 
of  the  ex-senator,  rose  from  her  chair  in  the  library 
where  she  had  been  conning  her  Bible,  and  sounded  the 
call  to  prayers  on  the  large  Chinese  gong  in  the  hall. 
She  passed  into  the  red  parlor  over  the  red  medallion 
carpet  to  the  red-hung  windows,  and  drew  the  draperies 
until  the  room  assumed  the  proper  degree  of  gloom  that, 
in  the  opinion  of  some,  should  attend  a  reading  of  the 
Holy  Word.  That  done,  she  took  up  the  family  Bible 
from  its  place  beside  the  family  album  on  the  what-not, 
and  retreated  to  the  large  comfortable  chair  near  the 
mantel.  She  settled  her  sober  brown  taffeta  skirts,  and 
steadied,  with  three  stiff  fingers  of  either  hand,  her 
breakfast  cap  of  rigid  black.  There,  in  full  view  of 
the  portraits  of  five  relatives,  ministers  and  missionaries 
of  the  church,  she  fell  into  appropriate  meditation. 

A  patter  of  children's  feet  on  the  stairs,  and  there 
entered  Louisa,  in  a  prim  red-and-white-checked  frock, 
with  pantalets  of  crackling  stiffness,  holding  by  hand 
her  brother  Bushrod,  fidgeting  in  his  Sunday  best.  The 
children  advanced  with  trepidation,  and  waited  silently 
until  their  mother,  returning  from  her  inward  contem 
plation  with  a  start,  kissed  them  perfunctorily  on  the 
forehead,  and  began  the  inspection  of  their  toilettes. 

"  Put  up  your  hands,  children.  Humph  !  Louisa, 
your  hair  is  not  tidily  brushed ;  not  as  a  young  ladyt's 

176 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  177 

should  be.  Bushrod,  put  out  your  right  hand  —  no,  not 
that  way;  give  it  to  me.  Humph  !  just  as  I  thought; 
you  have  not  used  the  soap  —  don't  tell  me  you  have ; 
I  know  better.  Take  your  seats  now,  and  after  prayers 
go  to  Matilda,  and  let  her  attend  to  you  properly.  For 
shame,  Louisa !  For  shame,  Bushrod !  To  think  that  / 
should  have  such  children  !  " 

In  the  midst  of  this  soft-spoken  speech  a  tall  figure, 
straight  and  square,  entered  the  room.  The  children 
ran  forward  with  shrieks  of  delight.  On  the  next  in 
stant  they  were  being  tossed  to  the  ceiling. 

"  Mr.  Wingate,  Mr.  Wingate,"  cried  a  warning  voice, 
"  the  children  are  very  naughty ;  they  have  neglected 
their  toilettes  this  morning.  I  do  wish  you  would  not 
pet  them  so." 

"  There,  there,  Maria,"  the  senator  answered,  a  shade 
of  annoyance  crossing  his  wrinkled,  smooth-shaven  face. 
"  Children  will  be  children ;  don't  forget  we  were  once 
so  ourselves." 

"  Remember  also  that  there  is  such  a  thing  as  dis 
cipline,"  she  retorted,  raising  her  eyebrows  at  the  two 
children,  now  snuggling  on  his  knees. 

"Where  children  are  high-spirited,  there  is  such  a 
thing  as  too  much  discipline." 

Mrs.  Wingate  was  settling  back  stiffly  in  the  arm 
chair,  when  some  one  came  singing  down  the  stairs, 
and  in  a  flash  of  blue,  a  young  lady,  just  out  of  her 
teens,  with  curls  of  brown  and  eyes  of  hazel,  swept  the 
floor  with  a  laughing  courtesy.  The  father  put  the 
children  from  his  knees  and  rose  with  a  glow  of  wel 
come  on  his  face  —  all  the  annoyance  vanished,  the 
dark  room  transformed  by  some  one's  coming. 

"Good  morning,"  she  cried,  throwing  herself  into  his 
arms  with  a  laugh  of  happiness.  "  Good  morning, 


1 78  ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

father ;  good  morning,  mother.  Dick,  the  laggard,  is 
just  coming  down.  Oh,  what  a  fine  morning !  Where 
are  Shadow  and  Frolic  ? "  At  the  sound  of  their  names 
the  dogs  came  bounding  in,  tumbling  over  each  other  in 
their  eagerness  to  reach  their  mistress. 

Bushrod  Wingate  drew  back,  looking  down  affection 
ately  at  his  favorite,  Marjory,  as  she  stooped  to  receive 
the  caresses  of  the  dogs. 

"  How  graceful  she  is ! "  thought  the  father.  "  I  don't 
believe  she  could  make  a  motion  that  was  unlovely." 

Mrs.  Wingate,  whose  little  foot  had  been  whipping  the 
carpet,  —  a  gesture  always  preceding  meditation  or  inde 
cision,  —  burst  out  impatiently  :  "  Richard  is  always  the 
last.  He  is  never  prompt  He  is  never  punctual." 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,"  suddenly  broke  out  a  voice 
from  behind  the  door,  accompanied  by  a  lively  tattoo  on 
the  panels.  "Will  you  please  to  consult  the  clock; 
twenty-nine  minutes  and  fifty-seven  seconds  past  seven ; 
fifty-eight,  fifty-nine — half-past  —  on  time  —  good  morn 
ing  !  "  and  a  young  fellow,  with  defiant  eyes  and  ob 
stinate  cowlick,  pirouetted  into  the  room,  holding  at 
arm's-length  a  watch,  which  he  placed  on  the  table, 
proceeding  to  do  reverence  before  it  in  pantomimic 
fashion,  hand  on  heart,  until  Marjory,  the  children,  and 
his  father  burst  into  roars  of  laughter. 

"  Good  morning,  mother,"  he  cried,  suddenly  assum 
ing  dignity  as  he  advanced  and  brushed  with  his  lips 
his  mother's  forehead. 

"  Humph  !  "  Mrs.  Wingate  glanced  fixedly  at  the  em 
broidered  waistcoat.  "  Good  morning  ;  another  vest, 
Richard  ? " 

"  Only  the  twenty-seventh,  ma'am.  Anything  wrong 
with  me  ?  Hands  clean  ?  hair  brushed  ?  I  saw  you 
looking  at  them." 


ARROWS   OF   THE   ALMIGHTY  179 

"  Dick,  Dick !  "  warned  his  father. 

Mrs.  Wingate  winced,  for  to  tell  the  truth  she  was 
looking  at  them.  She  looked  at  every  one  in  the  same 
way,  from  her  husband  and  the  visiting  clergymen  to 
the  little  Bennetts  next  door.  With  her,  cleanliness 
was  an  article  of  faith. 

Marjory  looked  up'anxiously,  wondering  if  her  mother 
and  Dick  had  quarrelled  again  last  night.  Then  as  the 
senator  made  a  sign  for  attention,  she  took  her  seat  on 
the  sofa,  Bushrod  and  Louisa  peering  over  her  arms, 
opened  the  Bible,  and  began  the  alternate  verses  in  a 
sweet,  low  voice,  Louisa,  at  the  direction  of  her  finger, 
following  her  in  childish  treble. 

Mrs.  Wingate  waited  the  next  reading  somewhat  anx 
iously,  for  Richard  was  a  continual  source  of  unexpected 
discomfort. 

It  was  only  the  last  Sunday,  while  the  Rev.  Jeptha 
Eppineetle  was  "under  their  roof,  that  Dick  had  been 
guilty  of  an  irreparable  breach  of  conduct.  The  alter 
nate  verses  had  been  finished  without  mishap,  and  she 
had  beheld  him  with  a  sigh  of  relief  in  respectful 
posture,  when  the  prayer  ended,  and  the  others  aris 
ing,  it  was  seen  that  Dick  was  still  -on  his  knees. 
Marjory  coughed  hurriedly  once  —  twice  —  without 
effect,  and  the  children  began  to  giggle,  so  that  the 
minister  looked  about  and  saw  the  mortification  of 
his  hostess.  With  a  gallantry  characteristic  of  the 
South,  he  raised  his  hand  and  interposed  in  a  delicate 
undertone,  "  A  deeply  religious  nature,  madam  ;  I  know 
these  childish  awakenings.  Come,  let  us  leave  the  boy 
to  prayer."  Unfortunately,  at  this  moment  Dick  was 
heard  to  giggle  outright,  and  Mrs.  Wingate,  gliding 
swiftly  forward,  beheld  him  staring  rapturously  out  of 
the  low  window  at  the  prof anest,  wickedest  of  sights  — - 


i8o  ARROWS  OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

at  a  pair  of  cocks  fighting  in  the  Bennett's  yard.  Slap 
across  his  ears  fell  the  angry  hand,  but  it  was  Wednes 
day  before  the  mother  could  recover  her  wonted 
equanimity. 

On  the  present  occasion,  Louisa,  having  spelled 
through  her  verse  with  many  promptings  from  Mar 
jory,  and  ended  with  an  air  of  great  achievement,  Dick 
gave  a  slight  cough  and  began  rapidly  in  a  subdued 
tone,  "  Fathers,  provoke  not  your  children  to  wrath,  lest 
they  be  discouraged  —  " 

"  Richard  !     There,  I  knew  it  —  I  knew  it !  " 

"What,  ma'am?  Oh,  isn't  that  the  verse?"  asked 
Dick,  with  a  cat-and-cream  expression,  and  he  began 
again  at  the  proper  place. 

Mrs.  Wingate's  foot  began  to  whip  the  carpet  again, 
and  prayers  being  ended,  she  bridled  up  to  her  hus 
band  and  exclaimed :  "  Such  impertinence  !  Do  you 
allow  your  children  to  insult  their  parents  before  your 
eyes  ?  You  should  have  punished  him." 

"Punished  —  punished —  I  am  tired  of  punishing  my 
children,  and  I  won't.  I  want  to  enjoy  them.  Boys 
will  be  boys.  What  has  he  done  ? " 

"  He  did  it  to  annoy  me.  He  was  most  disrespectful 
—  most  insulting,  last  night  when  you  were  out ;  most 
insulting ! " 

"  Maria,  have  you  been  nagging  the  boy  again  about 
his  statues  ? "  the  senator  interrupted  impatiently. 
"  Have  you  been  at  him  ?  I  have  asked  you  to  let 
him  alone.  Have  you  forgotten  Stephen  and  Henry  ? " 
Their  two  elder  sons  had  not  been  at  home  for  three 
years. 

"  I  know  my  duties  as  a  mother,  as  a  Christian  mother, 
Mr.  Wingate,  and  I  intend  to  perform  them,  at  whatever 
heartache  to  myself." 


ARROWS  OF  THE   ALMIGHTY  181 

"  You  will  respect  my  wishes,  wife.  I  will  not  have 
the  children  tormented  by  constant  punishments." 

When  her  husband  used  that  tone  and  called  her 
"  wife,"  Mrs.  Wingate  knew  that  further  discussion  was 
unprofitable.  So  she  lifted  her  eyebrows,  and  saying 
very  low,  "  He  is  blind  to  my  suffering ;  may  God  for 
give  him  !  "  rustled  into  the  breakfast  room  and  plumped 
down  at  the  head  of  the  table,  seeking  a  little  consola 
tion  in  "The  Death  of  Wesley,"  that  hung  where  every 
morning  she  might  regard  it  "  with  higher  thoughts." 

Sunday,  being  the  day  usually  consecrated  to  repose 
and  tranquillity,  was  invariably  the  battling-ground  of 
the  week.  In  ten  minutes  the  musketry  began.  Dick 
was  determined  to  be  a  sculptor.  He  had  his  little  den 
peopled  with  a  score  of  famous  ancients  from  which  he 
was  wont  to  practise  in  the  clay.  The  stark  Venuses 
and  unmaidenly  Dianas  were  the  mortification  of  Mrs. 
Wingate,  who  held,  with  many  strict  people  of  that 
day,  the  strongest  notions  of  what  is  termed  the  nude 
in  art.  To  destroy  these  pagan  divinities  would  have 
been  to  her  eyes  as  pious  a  service  as  any  recorded 
overthrow  of  infidel  idols,  and  only  by  the  stern  refusal 
of  her  husband  was  she  restrained  from  such  missionary 
work.  On  the  present  occasion  she  was  taunting  Dick 
with  his  latest  purchase  —  a  small  cast  of  the  Venus 
of  Milo  which  she  had  newly  discovered  in  the  den  of 
abominations. 

"  So  you  have  been  prying  among  my  things  ?  "  cried 
Dick,  angrily. 

"  I  have  been  doing  my  duty,  as  I  know  it.  A  mother 
has  the  right  to  see  everything." 

"  Indeed ;  why  don't  you  go  into  my  room  openly, 
then,  instead  of  stealing  in  when  I  am  away  ? " 

"  I   will  not   discuss   such   a  suggestion,"  answered 


182  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

Mrs.  Wingate  haughtily,  and,  finding  the  fire  a  little 
too  close,  she  cast  her  eyes  about  for  another  point  of 
attack. 

"  Marjory,  do  I  understand  that  you  are  going  to  the 
Beldon's  this  week  ? " 

"  Yes,  mother." 

"To  a  dance?" 

"  Yes,  mother." 

"  Dance  ? " 

"Yes,  but  —  " 

"You  understand  that  I  thoroughly  disapprove  of 
such  proceedings  ? " 

"  Yes,  mother." 

"That  I  consider  dancing  a  most  improper  exercise? " 

"  Yes,  mother." 

"A  most  vulgar,  common,  sinful,  immodest,  unmaid- 
enly,  reprehensible  exercise?" 

"  Oh,  mother !  " 

"  And  you  intend  to  go  —  to  dance  ? " 

"But  —  " 

At  this  point  the  senator  laid  down  his  knife  and  fork 
with  a  crash,  and  said :  "  Wife,  I  want  to  repeat  to  you 
once  for  all  that  I  have  requested  Marjory  to  dance,  to 
wear  what  she  pleases,  to  enjoy  herself  as  other  modest, 
pure-minded  girls  do.  Now  let  that  settle  it,  once  for 
all.  I  have  ordered  Marjory  to  dance." 

Mrs.  Wingate  bit  her  lips,  retired  to  the  contempla 
tion  of  her  plate,  and  began  in  a  low  voice,  "  What 
position,  pray,  do  I  hold  in  this  household  ?  My  daugh 
ter  decks  herself  out  in  ribbons  and  feathers  and  jew 
elry  against  my  express  wishes.  My  son  flaunts  his 
disgraceful  statues  in  my  house." 

"  Mother  does  not  approve  of  the  Venus  of  Milo,"  in 
terposed  Dick,  addressing  the  table. 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  183 

"  I  certainly  do  not,"  retorted  the  mother,  seizing  the 
chance  to  change  her  fire  ;  "  of  that  or  any  other  of 
your  vulgar  collection.  If  I  —  if  I  had  any  voice  in  my 
home,  I  know  what  should  be  done." 

"  You  would  clean  the  place  out,  wouldn't  you,  ma'am  ? 
Can't  we  make  them  respectable  ?  Shall  we  put  a  pair 
of  trousers  on  Apollo  —  and  a  dress  on  Venus  ? " 

Louisa,  who  had  been  listening  bewildered  and  open- 
eyed  to  this  conversation,  here  seized  upon  her  mother's 
sleeve,  and  piped  out,  "  Mamma,  why  don't  Venus  wear  a 
dress  ? " 

"  Hush,  my  dear,"  said  the  mother,  with  an  expression 
of  pain.  "  See  what  monstrous  ideas  you  are  putting 
into  the  mind  of  an  innocent  child." 

"  It  is  you,  rather,"  began  the  boy. 

"  Dick,  Dick,"  said  the  senator,  and  Marjory  looked 
up  with  appealing  eyes,  "  enough,  enough." 

"  I  will  not  discuss  the  matter  any  further,"  continued 
Mrs.  Wingate.  "  Do  not  say  another  word  upon  the 
subject.  I  cannot  make  you  see  your  wickedness  and 
your  impiety  —  I  pray  that  God  will"  —  she  bent  her 
head  over  her  plate  and  said  in  a  low  voice,  "  and  forgive 
you  —  as  I  do." 

With  an  angry  exclamation  Dick  sprang  up,  and  cry 
ing,  "  How  long  am  I  to  stand  this !  "  slammed  out  of  the 
room.  The  children  looked  up  frightened,  as  Marjory 
rose  to  follow,  while  Mrs.  Wingate,  with  a  scarlet  spot 
on  either  cheek,  eyed  the  senator  with  a  gaze  that  in 
quired  point-blank,  "  Well,  Mr.  Wingate,  do  you  intend 
to  notice  that?" 

When  Marjory  reached  the  rebel  he  was  roaming  the 
library  in  a  frantic  rage. 

"  Confound  it !  "  he  cried  at  her  entrance.  "  I  won't 
stand  it  any  longer.  I  won't  —  I  won't  —  I  won't  1" 


i84  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

"  Dick,  Dick,  be  calm."  The  girl  went  and  stood  in 
front  of  him  and  laid  her  hands  upon  his  shoulders. 

"  Calm  —  oh,  yes  !  Of  course,  calm  !  Here,  you  don't 
know  the  worst  —  here,  look  at  these,  here  and  here  !  " 

He  pulled  out  a  bundle  of  clippings  and  thrust  them 
into  her  hands.  "  There,  that's  what  she's  been  doing 
all  this  week,  sticking  those  up  on  my  pincushion  at 
night  —  a  lot  of  her  old  sermons  !  Read  them  !  Read 
them  !  '  Humility,'  ah-h,  humility !  '  Obedience ! '  '  Duty 
of  the  child  to  his  parents ! '  Go  on,  go  on !  That's  the 
one  she  put  up  last  night  after  we'd  had  a  discussion 
about  her  eternal  nude  in  art.  By  heavens!  I  won't 
stand  it!  I  won't — I  won't!  I'm  so  mad  I'd  just  like  to 
take  that  vase  there  —  see  it  —  and  break  it  on  the  floor." 
And  Dick  in  his  temper,  snatching  up  the  urn,  looked 
so  fierce  that  Marjory  began  to  smile. 

"  Confound  it,  Sis  —  I  won't  stand  her  asking  God 
to  forgive  me.  Hang  it,  Marjory,  no  one  could  stand 
that.  She  asked  God  to  forgive  me  last  night.  Great 
heavens,  how  that  enrages  me !  " 

"Poor  old  Dick!"  Marjory  said,  putting  her  arms 
around  his  neck;  "why  do  you  answer  her?  It  is  so 
much  better  to  be  patient." 

"I  can't,  Sis."  He  shook  his  head.  "You're  dif 
ferent  from  me.  You  stand  things  like  an  angel ;  you 
are  an  angel  to  me."  He  glanced  about,  a  little  ashamed 
of  his  sudden  anger.  "  I  say,  let's  go  into  the  garden ; 
it  will  cool  me  off,  and  you  do  me  so  much  good,  Mar 
jory.  I  can't  help  myself;  I'm  made  different." 

"  I  wish  —  I  wish  you  could  live  independently," 
Marjory  said  abruptly,  when  they  were  in  the  garden. 
"You're  so  unhappy  here  —  dear  old  Dick." 

"  I  wish  to  heaven  I  could ! "  the  young  fellow  an 
swered  gloomily.  He  bent  down  and  snapped  off  a 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  185 

branch,  "  If  it  wasn't  for  the  governor,  I'd  run  away. 
You  know  how  it  was  with  Harry  and  Steve." 

"Yes,  I  know — Harry  and  Steve.  Dick,  I  think  it 
would  be  better  —  I  think  I'll  speak  to  father." 

"  Wish  you  would,  Sis ;  if  you  only  ask,  I  know  he 
won't  refuse." 

They  walked  up  and  down  silently  for  a  while,  Dick 
slashing  at  the  weeds,  Marjory  with  her  eyes  on  the 
ground. 

"  Dick,  what  do  you  do  away  from  here  ?  Have  you 
many  friends?" 

"  I  say,  Sis,"  he  broke  out  resolutely,  "  don't  you  get 
glum  now.  Don't  you  worry  about  me.  I  won't  have 
it.  I  don't  bother  much  about  this,  it's  only  when  I'm 
here;  I  forget  it  when  I'm  away.  Friends?  Why,  yes, 
lots  of  'em.  How  I  wish  you  could  meet  John  Gaunt, 
and  Jack  Hazard ;  there's  a  fellow  for  you !  " 

"  I  have  met  Mr.  Hazard,"  Marjory  looked  up  with 
a  smile,  for  Jack,  tenor  in  the  choir,  had  once  been 
unavoidably  introduced;  "but  I  don't  think  he  enjoys 
the  society  of  our  sex.  I  have  seen  Mr.  Gaunt  several 
times,  and  heard  much  about  him  —  not  all  for  the  best, 
Dick.  You  are  constantly  talking  of  him  to  me :  are 
you  sure  he  deserves  all  your  admiration  ?  " 

"  John  Gaunt  is  a  trump !  Why,  Sis,  I  don't  know 
what  I'd  have  done  if  it  hadn't  been  for  him.  I  was 
going  right  down  when  he  took  hold  of  me.  I  used  to 
feel  so  hopeless,  Sis.  I  always  feel  I'm  a  lost  soul  when 
she  is  through.  I  tell  you,  I  can't  stand  it.  There,  there, 
Marjory,  don't  take  my  hand.  If  you  do,  I  don't  know 
what  I'll  do.  There.  Where  was  I? — oh,  John  Gaunt. 
He  took  hold  of  me  and  gave  me  a  good  talking-to 
that  straightened  me  out  and  —  and  I've  been  around 
to  their  rooms  a  lot,  and  they've  been  as  good  as  gold 


1 86  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

to  me.  You're  wrong  about  John.  I  think  he  was  a 
little  wild  himself  at  first ;  but  he's  fine  all  through  now. 
I  sometimes  think,  do  you  know,  Sis,  that  he  was  pretty 
hard  struck  some  way,  and  he  just  tried  to  forget  things 
—  for  it  does  do  that,  you  know." 

Marjory  followed  him  sadly  —  they  had  never  talked 
so  frankly  before,  and  she  was  beginning  to  see  under 
the  surface. 

"  How  I  wish  you'd  meet  him,  Sis.  Do  you  know 
how  he  came  to  Cleveland  —  " 

"And  how  he  thrashed  the  wharf  hand,"  Marjory 
broke  in,  mischievously.  "  And  how  he  saved  him 
again,  and  slew  all  the  giants  and  delivered  the  country  ? 
My  dear  Dick,  you  have  drummed  the  tale  into  my 
ears  a  dozen  times,  and  so  has  Mr.  Blodgett." 

"Now  don't  make  fun,  Marjory;  he's  just  the  kind 
of  a  man  —  well,  I'd  pick  for  you." 

"And  so  you'd  marry  your  old  sister  off  to  John 
Gaunt,  would  you  ? "  she  answered,  pinching  his 
cheek. 

"  Don't  tease.  Yes,  I  would,  that's  flat,  and  I'll  tell 
you  another  thing." 

"  What  ? " 

"  I  don't  like  that  Garroway,"  with  which  Dick  looked 
up  into  her  face  a  little  guiltily. 

"Why,  Dick,"  Marjory  exclaimed,  stopping  short, 
"  what  do  you  mean  ? " 

"  Don't  know."  He  returned  to  slashing  the  weeds. 
"Can't  tell  what  it  is,  but  I  don't  like  the  fellow  — 
that's  all.  He's  —  he's  not  quite — not  quite  your  sort, 
don't  you  know." 

Marjory  searched  his  face  curiously,  flushed  a  bit,  and 
then  signed  imperiously  that  she  did  not  choose  to  con 
tinue  the  conversation. 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  187 

"Well,  anyhow,  Sis,  you're  a  trump.  Good-by.  I 
—  I  feel  too  wicked  for  church.  I'm  going  for  a  long 
walk  —  don't  care  what  they  think  —  good-by."  And 
before  she  could  remonstrate,  Dick  had  sprung  over  the 
fence  and  disappeared. 

Marjory,  astounded  at  such  flat  rebellion,  made  her 
way  into  the  house.  Her  mother  was  nowhere  to  be 
seen,  her  father  was  pacing  the  library.  She  tiptoed  to 
her  room,  and  making  ready  for  the  street,  returned  and 
peeped  in  through  the  library  door. 

"  I  must  be  alone,  Marjory,"  the  senator  said,  look 
ing  up  with  a  troubled  face.  "  Don't  disturb  me." 

She  crossed  her  arms  ferociously,  stamped  her  foot, 
and  said  with  a  tremendous  scowl :  "  I  must  be  alone ! 
Oh,  how  terrible  and  awe-inspiring  !  " 

"But  really,  Marjory,  I  insist,  I  in  —  " 

"  Not  another  word,"  cried  the  little  tyrant,  and  inside 
of  three  minutes  she  had  his  hat  on  his  head,  and  his 
cane  in  his  hand. 

"  I  surrender,"  the  old  fellow  said,  with  a  heavy  sigh ; 
"  how  you  do  bulldoze  your  old  father." 

"  Stuff !  You  know  you  love  it.  Give  me  your  arm. 
I  am  carrying  you  off  for  a  walk  before  church. 
Where's  mother  ? " 

"  She  —  she  is  in  her  room  —  at  prayer,"  the  father 
answered,  with  hesitation. 

The  news  disturbed  Marjory,  but  she  put  aside  all 
her  apprehensions,  and  began  to  coax  away  his  bitter 
thoughts,  and  drove  the  worry  from  the  corners  of  his 
eyes ;  and  after  church,  having  brought  him  to  better 
spirits,  she  broached  the  subject  of  the  change  of  quar 
ters,  and  reluctantly  they  decided  that  Dick  should  be 
allowed  to  begin  life  in  bachelor  quarters  and  have  a 
taste  of  the  independence  for  which  he  longed. 


CHAPTER   XX 

MRS.  WINGATE  never  renounced  a  purpose.  It  was 
now  thirty  years  since  she  had  promised  to  honor  and 
obey  the  man  to  whom  she  had  given  her  hand,  and, 
defeated  and  repulsed  a  thousand  times,  she  had  never 
once  flinched  in  her  desire  or  desisted  from  her  purpose 
to  make  a  convert  of  her  husband.  Just  as  Dick's 
pincushion  was  wont  to  flower  at  night  with  moral 
clippings,  so  the  old  mahogany  table  and  desk  in  the 
senator's  room  were  constantly  offering  to  his  eyes  a 
variety  of  theological  discussions,  calculated  to  awaken 
and  convince.  Dick  wickedly  inserted  these  offerings 
into  a  scrap-book,  from  which  it  is  feared  he  read 
extracts  to  boon  companions  ;  the  father  had  ceased  to 
notice. 

Her  husband  still  remaining  impervious  to  these 
arguments,  and  to  the  contemporary  eloquence  of  the 
casual  Sunday  circle,  she  induced  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Eppineetle  to  undertake  his  conversion.  Bolstered  up 
by  her  exertions,  the  buoyant  and  hopeful  young  minis 
ter,  just  from  the  divinity  school,  one  night,  in  a  passion 
of  cheerful  martyrdom,  actually  bearded  the  senator  in 
his  library. 

At  the  end  of  a  short  half-hour,  Mr.  Eppineetle  re 
turned  from  the  crusade,  limp  and  crestfallen.  "Your 
husband,  my  dear  Mrs.  Wingate,  while  a  gentleman  of 
courtesy,  is  not,  I  fear,  amenable  to  reason.  He  does 
not  possess  your  enlightenment,  nor  your  reverence  for 

1 88 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  189 

things  sacred."  And  not  another  word  could  he  be 
brought  to  say  of  the  interview. 

But  the  indefatigable  woman  did  not  renounce  her 
attempt.  At  the  very  moment  when  she  was  driving 
home  with  Dr.  Pax,  she  was  scheming  how  the  elo 
quence  that  had  championed  the  tenets  of  her  church 
and  put  to  shame  the  scoffers  of  other  communions, 
might  at  last  accomplish  her  desire. 

Yet  Mrs.  Wingate,  with  all  her  energy,  had  been 
fated  to  witness  the  defeat  of  her  fondest  ambitions. 
At  the  birth  of  each  son  she  had  consoled  herself  with 
the  conviction  that  she  had  presented  the  world  with 
a  prophet  of  the  church.  Stephen  and  Henry,  raised 
to  this  end,  according  to  the  best  available  scriptural 
and  ecclesiastical  precepts,  had  nearly  prostrated  their 
mother  by  running  away  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  forsak 
ing  the  pulpit  for  the  mart ;  while  Richard,  Mrs.  Win- 
gate  herself  confessed,  could  not  be  said  to  have  shown 
any  leanings  toward  the  ministry.  Bushrod,  aged  nine, 
still  remained,  and  on  his  tender  years  were  set  the  last 
hopes  of  the  devout  woman.  Bushrod,  at  least,  should 
uplift  his  fellow-men.  Upon  Bushrod,  then,  was  con 
centrated  all  the  sacred  artillery  of  the  Sunday  dinners. 
Mr.  Eppineetle,  who  specially  enjoyed  the  repast,  took 
the  young  man  under  his  own  ecclesiastical  wing, 
taught  him  his  psalms,  and,  after  the  fashion  of  the 
day,  strove  earnestly  to  show  him  the  innate  wickedness 
of  his  soul  and  the  deadly  error  of  his  ways.  His 
mother  bore  him  off  with  her  when  she  and  Miss 
Crotchett,  her  elderly  confidante,  went  about  in  the 
carriage  on  their  tours  of  well-doing.  She  beckoned 
him  to  her  side  when  engaged  in  discourse  on  points  of 
faith,  and  would  halt  and  reverse  the  train  of  conversa 
tion  that  her  darling  might  not  be  left  behind.  In  a 


i9o  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

word,  she  had  signalled  him  out  and  anointed  him  for 
the  call — and  the  neighbors  were  wont  to  say  that  a  more 
thorough  scamp,  completer  rogue,  greater  nuisance,  than 
young  Bushrod  did  not  exist  from  one  end  of  Euclid  Ave 
nue  to  the  other ! 

It  may  perhaps  be  doing  Mrs.  Wingate  injustice  to 
hint  that  on  presenting  her  husband  with  her  third 
child,  she  was  disappointed  to  learn  that  she  could  have 
bequeathed  the  world  so  unministerial  a  thing  as  a  girl. 
Certainly,  whatever  may  have  been  her  secret  prefer 
ence,  she  consoled  herself  with  the  thought  that  if  by 
reason  of  sex  the  little  Marjory  could  never  adorn  a 
pulpit,  she  might  live  to  grace  a  minister's  home.  So 
when  that  young  lady  passed  from  a  slim  girl  with 
romping  ways  into  hoop  skirts  and  dignity,  Mrs.  Win- 
gate  began  to  search  among  the  cloth,  and  the  eye  of 
favor  fell  upon  Jeptha  Eppineetle.  She  gave  him  to 
understand  that  he  was  persona  grata,  his  allowance  of 
dinners  was  doubled,  and  no  matter  who  else  was  down 
to  be  fed,  the  strong  beak  and  rising  forehead  of  the 
young  minister  were  to  be  seen  next  to  Marjory. 

At  first  the  girl  would  not  believe  that  her  mother 
could  destine  her  for  this  dreary  old-young  man,  who 
rarely  smiled,  and  always  agreed  perfectly  with  both 
sides  of  the  question. 

"What  a  nose  !  "  she  cried  one  day,  when  her  mother 
had  adroitly  led  up  to  the  pretender.  "  It  can't  be  all 
his." 

"  Marjory,  don't  be  disrespectful.  Mr.  Eppineetle's 
nose  is  very  handsome.  A  large  nose,  my  dear,  is  a 
mark  of  character.  What  a  noble,  high  forehead  he  has  ! 
That,  my  dear,  is  the  mark  of  intellect." 

"The  mark  of  fiddlesticks,  mamma  —  he  is  as  bald 
as  a  coot  from  his  crown  to  his  eyebrows, "  broke  in 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  191 

Marjory,  who  had  learned  the  expression  from  Master 
Dick. 

"  What  language  for  a  young  lady !  Shame  on  you  ! 
I  particularly  request  you  to  refrain  from  such  vulgar 
expressions.  Mr.  Eppineetle  is  highly  spoken  of  in  the 
church.  Doctor  Pax  said  the  most  flattering  things 
about  him  yesterday.  He  has  a  future,  my  dear;  his 
voice  will  be  heard.  The  woman  who  gets  kirn,  let  me 
tell  you,  will  be  a  very  fortunate  woman." 

Marjory  saw  the  drift  of  her  mother's  remarks,  and 
piqued  at  the  suggestion,  answered  tartly:  "Sally  Bowers 
might  take  him,  mother.  She's  deaf,  and  so  would  miss 
half  of  his  weary  platitudes ;  but  as  for  anyone  else  — 
Heaven  preserve  her,  say  I !  " 

"  Humph !  "  the  indignant  lady  burst  out,  at  the  end 
of  her  patience.  "Very  smart,  Miss  Marjory,  very 
smart  indeed ;  but  you  may  count  yourself  lucky  if  you 
ever  get  the  chance." 

"What !  "  Marjory  sat  bolt  upright,  rubbing  her  eyes. 
"  You  mean  me  for  that  dismal  scarecrow.  Yes,  you  do 
—  you  do !  That  is  it,  that  is  it !  That's  why  he  is 
always  placed  next  to  me." 

The  mother,  of  course,  vigorously  denied  any  such 
intention.  She  had  said  not  what  was  untrue,  but  a 
little  more  than  she  had  meant  to  say.  Marjory  burst 
out  laughing,  clapped  her  hands,  ran  down  the  stairs 
and  straight  against  her  father,  who  was  that  moment 
entering.  She  caught  him  by  the  arm,  pulled  him  into 
the  library,  and  poured  out  the  tale,  brokenly,  through 
shrieks  of  laughter,  until  he,  at  first  disposed  to  frown, 
gave  away  before  her  merriment  and  joined  in  her 
amusement. 

"  And  now  tell  me  all  about  Dick.  What  is  he  going 
to  do  ? "  cried  Marjory,  jumping  up. 


i9 2  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

"We  have  arranged  everything,"  said  the  senator, 
and  he  told  her  how  Dick  had  been  installed  next  to 
his  friends.  "  I  saw  Mr.  Hazard,  and  a  very  original 
fellow  he  is,  but  I  think  he  will  have  a  good  influ 
ence  over  Dick.  I  am  going  around  to-night  after 
supper  to  see  Mr.  Gaunt." 

"  So  you  are  going  to  meet  John  Gaunt,"  said  Marjory, 
with  a  smile ;  "  I  warn  you  I  shall  have  a  lot  of  questions 
for  you." 

Supper  over,  the  senator  took  down  his  tall  hat, 
selected  a  cane,  and  trudged  off  on  his  errand,  until  he 
came  to  a  stop  before  a  low  frame  building  with  a  bay- 
window  bulging  on  the  second  floor.  Lights  were  blaz 
ing  across  the  panes,  and  the  sounds  of  a  song  floating 
down  suggested  that  the  young  fellows  were  entertain 
ing.  He  stood  a  moment  in  the  shadow,  nodding  his 
head  in  time  to  the  clear  tenor  voice  ringing  above,  and 
waited  until  the  last  note  had  died  away  before  he  be 
gan  to  thunder  on  the  shaky  door.  When,  after  repeated 
summons,  Caffy,  the  landlord,  had  loosened  the  door  a 
crack,  and  peered  through  with  suspicious  eyes,  he  sent 
the  old  fellow,  coughing,  up  the  stairs,  to  say  simply  that 
a  gentleman  wished  to  see  Mr.  Gaunt  below. 

Soon  there  came  a  firm  tramp,  and  the  senator,  look 
ing  up,  beheld  in  the  dusk  a  figure  descending  that 
seemed  to  fill  the  stairway.  A  hand  took  his,  two  steady 
eyes  scrutinized  him  from  a  face  whose  strong  melan 
choly  stood  out  in  the  light  of  the  windy,  ill-smelling 
lamp,  and  a  quiet  voice  said :  "  I  am  John  Gaunt.  This 
must  be  Senator  Wingate." 

"  I  am  Dick's  father,  Mr.  Gaunt."  The  two  men 
stood  a  moment,  taking  their  impressions.  "  I  have 
come  to  talk  with  you  about  my  boy." 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  193 

"  I  was  expecting  you,  sir.  Shall  I  get  my  hat  ?  Jack 
has  friends  upstairs.  We  can  take  a  walk  by  ourselves." 

The  tenor  voice  was  beginning  again  as  they  stepped 
into  the  street.  The  senator  glanced  up  at  the  window, 
wondering  if  his  son  were  of  the  jolly  company,  and 
said,  "  Mr.  Gaunt,  you  must  forgive  my  taking  you  from 
your  party." 

"  It  sounds  pretty  from  here,  doesn't  it  ? "  said  John. 
"  That  is  my  chum,  singing ;  Dick  is  there,  also.  To  tell 
the  truth,  Senator  Wingate,  I  am  a  very  poor  com 
panion.  I  like  to  sit  in  a  corner  and  look  on,  but  I  do 
not  shine  in  a  crowd,  and  somehow  I  always  feel  the  fun 
runs  more  easily  when  I'm  not  looking  on ;  so  you  see 
I  am  really  glad  to  have  a  walk  under  the  stars." 

"Well,  now,  that's  a  characteristic  of  my  own,"  the 
senator  began,  at  once  at  his  ease ;  "  I  have  always 
envied  others  of  a  more  fortunate  temperament." 

They  walked  along  a  moment  in  silence,  the  senator 
swinging  his  cane,  and  studying  how  to  begin,  when 
John  said  suddenly  :  — 

"  I  think  I  understand,  sir,  how  you  feel.  You  are 
hesitating  because  you  do  not  know  how  far  I  have 
Dick's  confidence.  He  has  told  me  all.  I  hope  you 
will  not  think  I  have  sought  his  secrets.  On  the  con 
trary,  I  begged  him  not  to  confide  in  me.  But  the  poor 
fellow  was  so  down  on  his  luck  that  he  wanted  to  pour 
out  his  heart  to  some  one,  and  I  let  him  —  well,  because 
I  have  learned  from  my  own  experience  how  it  relieves 
the  pressure." 

"  I  believe  you,  Mr.  Gaunt.  It  doesn't  take  me  long 
to  make  up  my  mind  about  a  man.  I  thank  you  for 
your  frankness.  I  have  been  seriously  worried  over 
Dick  for  some  time.  The  boy  is  impetuous,  hasty  in 
his  temper,  and  very  impatient  of  restraint.  I  am  afraid 


i94  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

that  his  mother,  with  all  her  good  qualities,  has  never 
understood  him.  I  suppose  Dick  has  told  you  of  his 
unhappiness  at  home." 

"  Yes,  he  has." 

"  It  was  partly  that  that  decided  me  to  let  him  start 
for  himself.  It  is  a  very  difficult  time  for  a  parent  when 
a  child  is  beginning  to  reach  maturity.  Neither  quite 
appreciates  the  other's  standpoint.  It  has  been  doubly 
hard  in  the  case  of  Dick  and  his  mother,  where  interests 
and  temperaments  are  different  —  and  I  think  in  such 
cases  the  sooner  the  children  are  independent  the 
quicker  a  better  understanding  will  come.  I  suppose, 
Mr.  Gaunt,  that  it  is  one  of  the  saddest  things  in  life 
that  a  father  can  never  know  his  son  as  well  as  the 
friends  he  has  chosen.  We  are  too  willing  to  be  de 
ceived.  So  I  have  come  to  you,  as  you  see,  frankly  to 
ask  your  opinion  of  the  boy.  Is  there  anything  wrong 
with  him  ?  I  beg  you  to  speak  honestly  to  me.  I  am 
not  the  father  to  cast  off  my  son  when  he  is  in  trouble." 

"  I  can  understand  now,  sir,  why  Dick  has  never 
gone  to  the  bad,"  said  John,  looking  over  at  the  other 
kindly.  "  I  will  be  equally  frank  with  you.  At  the 
bottom  there  is  nothing  wrong  with  the  boy.  He  is 
honest  and  straightforward,  and  he  is  clean.  He  drinks 
more  than  is  good  for  him,  and  has  gambled  a  little 
—  you  see  I  am  hiding  nothing  from  you.  But  he  is 
simply  passing  through  a  period  of  unrest,  like  many 
a  man  before  him.  What  the  boy  wants  is  work  —  to 
have  his  ambition  roused.  To  my  thinking,  sir,  you 
have  done  the  wisest  thing  you  could  do." 

"  I  am  very  glad  to  hear  you  say  so,"  said  the  sena 
tor,  shaking  his  head  sadly,  "for  it  was  hard  to  come 
to  this  decision." 

"  I  did  not  mean  to  hurt  you,"  began  John,  quickly, 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  195 

seeing,  under  the  other's  words,  how  deep  lay  the 
wound.  "  I  know,  sir,  what  you  mean ;  of  course  it 
must  have  been  hard.  Still,  I  repeat,  you  have  done 
the  wisest  thing.  Now  we  must  get  him  to  work. 
You  know,  perhaps,  that  since  Mr.  Blodgett  has  retired 
the  wharves  are  under  my  control." 

"  Yes,  Sam  Blodgett  is  an  old  acquaintance  of  mine," 
replied  the  senator ;  "  he  has  often  spoken  of  you." 

"You  must  not  go  too  implicitly  on  his  stories," 
John  said,  with  a  smile.  "  He  is  inclined  to  exaggerate, 
I  am  afraid.  Now  to  what  I  was  saying.  Dick  wants 
to  be  a  man ;  I  should  say,  give  him  a  taste  of  what 
that  means.  I  will  offer  him  a  place,  with  good,  hard, 
rough  work ;  that  ought  to  give  him  confidence  and 
make  him  self-reliant  Meanwhile,  I'd  fit  out  his  room 
with  busts  and  models,  and  that  will  keep  his  idle  hours 
out  of  mischief.  I  am  no  judge  —  but  he  made  what 
seems  to  me  a  capital  likeness  of  a  little  yellow  cur  of 
my  chum's." 

"  You  do  not  share,  then,  in  the  prejudice  against 
musicians  and  artists  ? " 

"I — why  should  I?  The  day  will  come  when  the 
prejudice  will  be  against  us." 

John  waited  while  the  elder  turned  over  in  his  mind 
the  plan  proposed,  until  at  length  he  broke  silence. 

"  I  believe  you  are  right.  We'll  try  it."  Then  he 
added  abruptly,  "  By  the  way,  how  did  you  learn  so 
much  about  young  fellows  ? " 

"  Well,  Senator,  there  is  only  one  way  to  learn  such 
things,"  John  replied — "by  experience." 

It  was  the  other's  turn  to  feel  that  he  had  been  tres 
passing. 

"  I  knew  your  mother,  Mr.  Gaunt,  I  think,  in  Balti 
more,"  Senator  Wingate  said,  as  they  came  in  sight  of 


196  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

the  door;  "and  just  met  your  father.  You  must  come 
and  see  me  —  you  and  your  friend." 

"  I  have  never  gone  out  much  —  I  have  always  said 
I  wouldn't;  but  I  should  like  to  drop  in  quietly  and 
have  a  talk  with  you.  I  have  always  admired  your  stand 
upon  these  questions  that  are  coming  so  dangerously 
near  now  —  I  should  like  to  discuss  them  with  you." 

"Why  not  come  in  Wednesday,  then  —  you  and  Mr. 
Hazard  —  to  supper?" 

"  Thank  you,  but  we  go  to  the  Blodgetts'  that  night. 
That  is  the  only  place  I  have  gone  to  since  coming 
here,  and  very  little  there ;  but  if  you  will  let  us,  we  can 
probably  drop  in  afterward." 

"Very  well,"  said  the  senator,  and  perceiving  that 
lis  companion  disliked  demonstration,  he  held  out  his 
hand,  and  added  simply,  "Good  night,  and  thank  you." 

The  next  afternoon,  as  Marjory  was  walking  in  the 
garden,  she  suddenly  beheld  a  tow  head  over  the  fence, 
and  Dick  advancing  with  that  peculiarly  gloomy  air 
which  he  wore  when  he  had  anything  of  consequence  to 
unfold.  She  ran  forward  to  meet  him. 

"  Come  along  with  me,  Sis,"  began  Dick,  drawing  his 
arm  through  hers,  and  looking  very  conscious.  "  Come 
on,  now;  I  must  have  a  talk  with  you." 

"You  can't  tell  me  any  news,"  Marjory  cried,  as  she 
skipped  along  gayly  by  his  side.  "  Isn't  it  fine,  Dick  ? 
I  know  it  all." 

"  You  don't,  Sis,  and  I'm  afraid  you  won't  like  it.  Oh, 
no,  no,  it's  not  about  me ;  there's  nothing  to  worry  about." 

"  Then,  Dick,  why  don't  you  tell  me  ? " 

"I  — well,  because  —  you  see,  I  don't  suppose  I  got 
it  in  just  the  right  way.  It's  about  that  Garroway." 

Marjory,  thoroughly  puzzled,  dropped  his  arm. 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  197 

"Why,  Dick,  what  can  you  have  to  tell  me  about 
Mr.  Garroway  ? " 

"You  —  you  don't  care  for  him,  do  you,  Marjie?" 

"  Tell  me  at  once  what  you  have  to  say." 

"Well,  Sis,"  he  began  haltingly,  with  a  tentative 
glance,  "  you  know  I  didn't  like  the  fellow.  I  told  you  I 
suspected  him,  and  last  night  I  wanted  to  draw  him  out, 
sort  of  make  him  talk,  you  know  —  get  the  truth,  you 
understand." 

"Go  on." 

"Well,  I  found  him  corned." 

"Corned  !  "  exclaimed  the  astonished  Marjory. 

"Well,  in  Queer  Street." 

"  What  do  you  mean,  Dick — explain.  Is  Mr.  Gar 
roway  in  jail?  " 

"  Drunk,  then." 

"  Oh  !  "  The  little  nostrils  began  to  quiver.  "  I  don't 
wonder  you  were  ashamed  to  tell  me." 

"  Well,  anyhow,"  Dick  cried  defiantly,  "  I  found  him 
out  —  there !  He  got  to  talking  about  you." 

"  Herbert  Garroway  mentioned  my  name  at  a  drinking 
party  !  No,  no,  no,  I  won't  believe  it !  " 

"  Believe  it  or  not,  he  not  only  mentioned  your 
name  —  but  when  some  one  joked  him  about  you — • 
he  —  he  —  now  don't  get  angry,  Sis  —  he  said:  'Guess 
the  girl  is  fond  of  me.'  I  hit  the  fellow  between  the 
eyes,"  added  Dick ;  "there  was  no  end  of  a  row.  I  don't 
think  he  knew  who  it  was." 

When  Marjory  had  listened  to  this  astounding  bit  of 
news,  she  bowed  her  head,  and  her  cheeks  grew  so  hot 
and  she  began  to  walk  so  rapidly  that  Dick  was  quite 
frightened.  At  the  end  of  a  few  minutes  she  stopped 
and  said,  "  Give  me  your  word  of  honor  that  everything 
you  have  said  is  true." 


198  ARROWS  OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

"  On  my  honor,  Marjie,  it  is." 

"That  will  do."  And  she  started  off  again  so  rapidly 
that  Dick  was  forced  to  his  longest  strides  to  keep  at 
her  side.  Then  all  in  a  moment  she  turned  and  cried, 
"  Oh,  Dick,  it  can't  be  true !  " 

"  Why,  Sis,  you're  not  in  love  with  the  man  !  "  cried 
Dick,  aghast  at  the  thought 

"  In  love ! "  she  flashed  out,  with  a  curl  of  the  lip, 
"no.  But  I  thought  —  that  is,  he  swore  a  hundred 
times  he  loved  me  —  asked  my  help.  Oh,  Dick,  Dick, 
are  all  men  alike?  Is  there  no  sincerity,  no  honor, 
among  them  ?  Do  they  care  nothing  for  a  woman  but 
to  make  boasts  of  her  over  their  glasses  ?  Forgive  you  ? 
—  I  thank  you.  He  is  coming  to  take  me  riding  this 
afternoon.  I  promise  you  it  will  be  the  last.  Where 
are  you  going,  Dick  ?  Don't  think  I  am  in  love  with 
him ;  I'm  not.  It  is  the  ingratitude  of  it  that  brings  the 
tears  to  my  eyes.  Where  are  you  going,  Dick  ?  Aren't 
you  coming  in  to  have  an  old-time  talk  with  me  ? " 

"  I've  got  to  be  at  the  yards,"  said  Dick,  a  trifle  scared 
at  her  manner.  "I  want  to  get  acquainted;  I  begin 
to-morrow." 

"  Oh,  Dick,"  she  called  after  him,  "  Mr.  Gaunt  and 
Mr.  Hazard  are  coming  to  call  to-morrow  night.  Come 
in,  then  —  won't  you  ? "  He  nodded,  and  she  watched 
him  a  moment  absently,  and  then  went  in  to  dinner. 

Soon  after  the  meal  was  over  there  came  the  clatter 
of  hoofs  on  the  driveway,  and  there  rode  up  a  thin, 
stylish,  dark  young  fellow,  sitting  his  saddle  care 
lessly. 

In  a  moment  Marjory  came  out  in  walking  costume. 
She  acknowledged  his  inquiring  bow  coldly,  and  said : 
"  I  have  something  to  say  to  you,  Mr.  Garroway.  Give 
your  horse  to  Peter  and  come  in  the  garden  with  me." 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  199 

He  sprang  off,  threw  the  reins  to  the  man,  and  fol 
lowed  her  over  the  lawn. 

At  the  sound  of  his  step  she  turned  about  and,  looking 
him  full  in  the  face,  said :  "  You  have  a  bruise  on  your 
forehead.  How  did  that  happen  ?  " 

"  An  accident.  Is  that  what  you  wish  to  speak  to  me 
about  ? " 

"  Indeed ;  what  kind  of  an  accident  ? " 

"Really  —  does  it  interest  you?"  He  turned  and 
drew  his  whip  across  his  body,  facing  her  with  a  shrug 
of  his  shoulders. 

"  Is  it  possible,  Mr.  Garroway,  you  do  not  understand 
my  reference  ? "  She  pointed  to  his  forehead.  She  bit 
her  lip,  walked  on,  and  then  suddenly  turning  on  him 
again,  she  insisted :  "  Answer  me.  Did  you  or  did  you 
not  say  these  words  last  night  when  —  when,  after  you 
had  allowed  my  name  to  become  the  subject  of  conver 
sation,  some  —  some  cad  had  the  audacity  to  compliment 
you  upon  your — what  shall  I  say?  —  your  conquest,  I 
believe  that  is  the  word."  For  a  moment  she  could  not 
speak.  "  Did  you  not  reply,  " '  The  girl  is  fond  of  me '  ? 
Answer  me,  sir !  " 

"  Who  has  dared  ? " 

"  Dared,  sir !  dared  to  tell  me  the  truth  ?  My  brother, 
who,  thank  Heaven,  struck  you  the  next  moment." 

His  face  flinched,  and  the  whip,  going  suddenly 
down,  lay  with  its  tip  stirring  among  the  gravel. 

"  It  is  true.  I  do  not  deny  it.  If  it  had  been  anybody 
else,  I — but  your  brother,  that  is  different,  and,  I  say, 
it  served  me  right.  I  am  not  going  to  ask  your  for 
giveness,  Miss  Wingate.  I  am  not  going  to  cry  out 
when  I'm  beaten.  But  I  said  what  I  did  when  I  did 
not  know  what  I  was  saying.  Look  here,  Marjory.  I 
love  you  so  that  I  would  cut  off  my  right  hand  to  have 


200  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

the  words  unsaid.  Don't  speak.  I  know  what  you  are 
going  to  say  —  if  I  loved  you  so,  I  could  reform.  Isn't 
that  so  ?  " 

Marjory  nodded. 

"  I  have  tried,  and  —  well,  I  can't;  and  that  is  all  there 
is  to  it.  I  shall  not  trouble  you  any  more.  Good  day, 
and  good-by." 

Marjory  barely  moved  her  head  in  return.  She  had 
never  respected  him  so  much  as  at  that  moment. 

She  crossed  the  garden  blindly  from  bush  to  bush. 
The  dogs  came  romping  out,  springing  up  against  her, 
beseeching  a  frolic.  She  went  down  the  path  to  the 
bench,  and  sat  straining  her  eyes  over  the  broken  lines 
of  the  house-tops. 

"  What  is  there  in  me,"  she  thought,  "  that  I  attract 
only  men  beneath  me  —  men  whom  I  have  to  help  ? 
Why  should  the  greatest  of  blessings  come  to  other 
women,  and  not  to  me  ?  Why  must  there  be  a  smirch 
on  every  man  who  falls  in  love  with  me  ?  Is  there  any 
thing  wrong  in  me,  or  what  is  it,  then  ?  To  think  that 
a  man  who  loved  me  —  whom  I  have  done  my  best  to 
help  —  cannot  respect  my  name  !  " 

The  tears  blinded  her  eyes.  What  a  restless  moment 
it  is  in  the  heart  of  a  woman  when  she  awaits  the  com 
ing  of  love !  How  she  longs !  How  she  wonders  at 
the  unrest  within  her,  and  searches  dumbly  for  the  cause ! 
All  her  future,  all  her  happiness  or  sorrow,  her  home, 
hangs  on  the  events  of  —  who  knows?  —  a  month,  a 
year,  a  week,  perhaps !  For  is  not  love  a  woman's 
ambition  ?  The  unanswered  question,  the  wonder,  the 
uncertainty,  and  the  storm  were  throbbing  in  her  breast 
as  she  shook  off  the  dogs  and  ran  back  into  the  house. 
Her  father  was  in  the  library.  She  threw  herself  into 
his  arms,  and  told  him  the  story. 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  201 

"  Oh,  father !  father !  "  she  cried  at  the  end,  burying 
her  face  ;  "  I  am  so  miserable." 

"  Are  you  sure,  little  girl,"  he  asked,  as  he  stroked  her 
curls,  "  that  you  do  not  love  him  ? " 

"  Yes,  but  —  "  her  voice  fell  to  a  whisper  —  "  I  might 
have  married  him." 

"  What !     Oh,  Marjie  !  " 

"  Oh,  don't  you  understand  ? "  She  closed  her  arms 
around  his  neck,  and  her  breath  came  quick  and  fast. 

"  Is  it  so  hard,  then,  for  you  here,  little  girl  ?  " 

She  sat  up,  and  brushed  off  the  tears. 

"  Oh,  no,  no  !  You  mustn't  think  that,  daddy  ;  not 
when  you're  here,  but  — "  she  turned  her  head  away, 
gazing  into  the  fire,  and  then  fell  back  on  his  shoulder 
—  "it  was,  sometimes,  when  you  were  away." 

"  I  shall  not  leave  you  again,  Marjory.  When  I  go, 
you  shall  come  with  me." 

"Will  you  promise  me  that?  Will  you  let  me  be 
always  by  your  side — always  there  to  take  care  of  you? 
Will  you  promise  ?  " 

"  I  promise  ;  but  —  " 

"  No  buts,  sir.  I  shall  never  marry,  if  that's  what 
you  mean  —  oh,  I  know  it ;  I  shall  be  your  daughter  all 
my  life." 

"What  good  times  we  shall  have,  little  girl."  The 
furrowed  face  lightened  up  in  the  glow  of  the  fire. 
"  We've  always  been  such  friends.  How  happy  you 
have  made  your  old  father  feel." 

She  moved  her  cheek  up  against  his,  and  lay  quietly 
on  his  shoulder,  dreaming. 

"What  good  times,"  he  repeated  softly,  "for  —  well, 
at  least  —  for  a  little  while,"  and  a  tear  mingled  in  the 
smile  that  was  on  his  face. 


CHAPTER  XXI 

THE  Blodgetts  had  "arrived,"  exactly  how,  no  one 
could  explain.  One  could  not  live  in  Cleveland  a  week 
without  hearing  from  a  dozen  people  the  family  history : 
how  Blodgett  had  started  as  a  simple  wharf-hand ;  how 
his  wife  was  once  plain  Maggie  Holan,  pretty  and  rosy- 
cheeked,  but  still  Maggie  Holan,  who  waited  at  Shinn's 
restaurant;  how  father  Holan  still  peddled  milk,  refus 
ing  assistance  from  his  son-in-law;  what  Malapropian 
blunders  Mrs.  Blodgett  had  uttered  at  the  last  church 
fair ;  how  her  husband  was  bored  to  death  at  her  sleepy 
functions  and  wandered  off  for  companionship  to  his 
saloon,  which  he  actually  retained  to  this  day.  They 
called  themselves  the  S.  Cadmus  Blodgetts —  ridiculous  ! 
It  had  been  nothing  but  plain  Sam  Blodgett  on  the 
wharves ;  Samuel  Cooney  Blodgett  when  the  saloon 
was  opened  and  a  flag  was  thrown  out  to  the  Irish  con 
stituency;  Mr.  S.  C.  Blodgett  when  the  wharves  and 
lake  traffic  had  established  his  financial  foothold  ;  and 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  S.  Cadmus  Blodgett  only  when  Miss 
Minnie  and  Miss  Euphemia  had  returned  from  their 
finishing  in  New  York,  —  with  "notions,"  —  and  that 
is  the  whole  story. 

At  first  Cleveland  had  taken  very  kindly  to  the  young 
couple.  They  joined  the  favorite  church,  where  noth 
ing  could  be  urged  against  either  their  piety  or  their 
generosity.  They  were  cited  as  evidence  of  American 
opportunity  and  the  inward  greatness  of  the  people. 

202 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  203 

Nor  could  it  be  denied  that  they  were  a  very  good  ex 
ample.  Young  Blodgett,  thrifty  and  shrewd,  had  swung 
himself  up  from  one  round  to  another,  as  fast  as  he  had 
gathered  his  money  sinking  it  in  real  estate  along  the 
lake  front,  foreseeing  in  the  little  town  of  nine  thou 
sand,  with  its  few  and  simple  docks  and  slow-plodding 
steamers,  the  great  city, — the  wharves,  the  piers,  the 
storehouses,  the  ships,  and  the  thronging  commerce. 
He  obtained  a  growing  interest  in  the  steamboat  line, 
—  a  third  —  a  half  —  a  controlling  one.  The  tide  was 
about  to  turn,  his  economies  were  beginning  to  bear 
fruit,  when  he  engaged  himself  to  pretty  Maggie  Holan 
of  Shinn's  restaurant. 

The  young  fellow  had  ambitions ;  he  wanted  his  wife 
to  be  a  lady.  So  with  his  very  first  profits  he  sent 
Miss  Holan  off  to  a  convent  for  her  education,  while  he, 
by  the  light  of  random  candle  in  his  narrow  quarters, 
struggled  over  such  books  as  he  could  pick  up.  Remem 
bering  all  this,  society  looked  very  kindly  on  them  in 
the  beginning.  It  was  only  when  Mrs.  Blodgett,  in  the 
natural  course  of  events,  began  to  aspire,  that  people 
thrust  their  tongues  in  their  cheeks.  To  these  social 
advances  of  his  wife  Blodgett  at  first  paid  small  atten 
tion,  humoring  her  as  he  always  did  in  matters  that 
pleased  her  and  did  him  no  harm ;  it  was  only  later  that 
he  rebelled. 

The  children  were  the  first  to  feel  the  change.  -For 
young  Sam  and  Minnie  nothing  could  be  done,  but  the 
next  arriving  were  christened  successively  Euphemia, 
Adelaide,  and  Florilla  —  so  that  people  used  to  say 
you  could  distinguish  the  steps  of  the  Blodgett  fortune 
by  the  names  of  the  children.  The  crowning  touch  was 
added  by  the  advent  home  of  the  two  older  daughters 
from  New  York.  From  that  moment  Mrs.  S.  Cadmus 


204  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

Blodgett  became  "hopeless."  The  first  overt  act  was 
the  placing  of  the  dinner  hour  at  night,  to  the  horror  of 
the  midday  diners.  The  innovation  became  the  talk 
of  the  town.  The  husband,  stirred  by  the  gibes  of  his 
acquaintances,  at  first  remonstrated,  but  Mrs.  Blodgett, 
flanked  by  the  two  finished  daughters,  was  invincible. 
The  meal  remained,  and  Sam  consoled  himself  with  the 
belief  that  his  wife,  with  her  Eastern  fancies,  would  soon 
distance  the  women  of  society,  even  as  in  business  he 
had  outstripped  the  husbands. 

It  was,  then,  to  this  much-disputed  meal  that  John, 
who  was  a  familiar  of  the  house,  had  been  invited  to 
bring  his  friend,  who,  though  an  old  acquaintance  of 
Blodgett,  had  never  had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  his 
wife  and  the  daughters. 

On  the  night  of  the  expected  visit  the  family  had 
hardly  settled  into  the  throes  of  preparation  when  a 
voice  from  the  second  floor  broke  out :  — 

"  Oh,  pa,  pa,  what  is  Mr.  Hazard  like  ?  Is  he 
nice?" 

"  Addie,  aren't  you  'shamed  of  yourself  ? "  A  bang 
of  the  door  and  Miss  Euphemia's  sharp  voice  rose  from 
her  room.  "  Hollerin'  all  around  the  house  and  callin' 
father,  'pa'!" 

"  Phe-mie,  don't  you  be  so  smart,  yourself,"  here  put 
in  a  third  voice,  and  Miss  Minnie  emerged  in  turn. 
She  had  been  two  years  finishing,  while  her  sister  had 
served  but  one.  "You  ought  to  know  better,  yourself, 
than  use  such  a  word  as  '  holler.'  " 

"  It's  right." 

"  It  isn't." 

"Tis." 

"Tisn't." 

"Who's  hollerin'  now,  I'd  like  to  know  ? "  cried  Miss 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  205 

Adelaide,  in  triumph.  Then,  returning  to  the  assault, 
"  Pa,  pa,  why  don't  you  answer  me  ?  Pa,  oh,  pa !  " 

The  discussion  waxing  furious  upstairs,  young  Sam, 
who  was  lounging  below,  smoking  his  father's  best  and 
passing  upon  the  wine,  sauntered  to  the  foot  of  the 
stairs  and  volunteered  :  — 

"  Fine  house,  lovely  girls !  Go  it,  Minnie,  go  it, 
Phemie !  Bawl  away,  Addie  !  " 

"  You  shut  up,  Sam.  Mind  your  own  business.  Pa, 
oh,  pa !  " 

"  Sweet  temper — nice  manners!" 

"  Silence,  all  of  you."  Thus  announced,  the  father, 
in  shirt-sleeves,  bounded  out  of  his  room  and  began  to 
pound  on  the  banisters  with  the  back  of  a  hair  brush. 
"  Shut  up,  shut  up,  do  you  hear  now  ?  Shut  up,  or  I'll 
lock  you  up,  every  one  of  you !  " 

No  one  gave  the  slightest  attention  to  this  warning. 
Adelaide  in  dishabille,  bending  over  the  banisters,  be 
gan  to  scold,  Minnie  and  Phemie  shouted  back  and 
forth  fierce  retorts,  the  father  pounded  away,  threaten 
ing  every  one  in  a  fury,  while  Sam  below  indulged  in 
satire  at  the  expense  of  the  rest,  until  Mrs.  Blodgett, 
pale  and  determined,  with  a  hastily  snatched-up  wrap 
per  over  her  shoulders,  appeared  and  took  command. 

"  Be  quiet,  every  one  of  you !  Sam,  finish  dressing ; 
/will  stop  this.  Minnie,  Minnie — Euphemia,  Euphe- 
mia,  stop  instantly,  or  not  another  dress  you  get  this 
year.  Adelaide,  go  at  once  to  your  room  or  stay  home 
from  the  party." 

"  How  'bout  Sam  ? "  rose  in  a  parting  shriek  from 
Adelaide,  as  two  separate  slams  announced  that  the 
sisters  had  retired  before  the  awful  threat.  "Why  don't 
you  punish  him,  sometimes  ? " 

"  Go  to  your  room,  miss,  do  you  hear,  saucy  child  ? 


206  ARROWS  OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

Sammie,  do  be  quiet.  O  Lord,  listen  to  that !  Here 
they  are !  " 

At  the  ring  of  the  bell  which  accompanied  her  excla 
mation,  a  sudden  calm  spread  over  the  house.  The 
ladies  beat  a  precipitous  retreat,  Sam  lounged  noncha 
lantly  into  the  parlor,  while  the  black  butler  proceeded 
to  the  door,  where  the  two  friends,  who  had  caught  the 
last  of  the  battle,  entered  with  grave  faces.  John 
nodded  to  the  butler,  while  Jack  made  for  the  glass, 
took  a  parting  look  at  the  Dundrearies  into  which  he 
had  blossomed,  and  cried,  "  Well,  John,  my  boy,  look  at 
them,  look  at  them  !  They're  perfectly  irresistible  — 
I'm  sorry  for  the  ladies." 

"  Evening,  gentlemen !  "  said  young  Sam,  appearing, 
—  a  dry,  stiff-necked,  flashy  fellow,  who  held  them  out 
the  hand  of  equality. 

"  Hello,"  from  John. 

"  Hello,"  still  cooler,  from  Jack. 

"  Have  a  cig '  —  governor's  best.  Take  anything  be 
fore  your  meals  ? " 

The  two,  declining,  followed  Sam  through  the  yellow 
damask  hangings  into  the  canary  parlor,  where  Jack 
fell  to  examining  a  creation  of  wax  flowers  and  fruit 
that  reposed  in  honor  under  a  glass  dome  on  the  piano. 

"Good  cigar,  just  the  same,"  Sam  began,  devoting 
himself  to  John.  "  Ought  to  take  one  —  they  come  ten 
dollars  a  box.  Hear  that  young  Wingate  has  been  rais 
ing  no  end  of  a  row." 

John  was  about  to  retort,  when  suddenly  there  came 
the  swish  of  draperies  on  the  stairs,  a  little  birdlike 
voice  warbling  in  the  hall,  a  quick  break  of  the  hangings, 
and  a  vision  in  pink  came  tripping  through  —  then,  at 
the  sight  of  the  young  men,  halted,  and  started  back 
with  a  blush  and  the  tiniest  little  cry  of  surprise. 


ARROWS   OF   THE   ALMIGHTY  207 

"Oh,  Mr.  Gaunt,  why,  when  did  you  come?  Just 
now  ?  Why,  I  didn't  hear  you,"  cried  Miss  Minnie,  who 
in  company  with  her  mamma,  her  papa,  and  her  two 
sisters  had  witnessed  their  arrival  from  the  vantage  of 
the  banisters.  "  Mr.  Hazard,  I  am  so  glad  to  meet  you." 

At  this  Sam,  muttering,  "  Well,  I  call  that  cool," 
slipped  his  hands  in  his  pockets  and  went  off  to  aid  the 
butler  with  the  wines. 

Minnie,  having  settled  her  hoops  into  a  chair,  smoothed 
out  her  gorgeous  pink  silk,  and  assured  herself  that  the 
braided  net  of  the  same  color  still  confined  her  blond 
hair,  became  at  once  so  concentrated  upon  John  that 
Jack  began  to  prick  up  his  ears. 

Another  rustle  in  the  hall,  and  in  came  Euphemia 
with  the  same  show  of  blushes  and  the  same  start  of 
surprise.  The  pink  silk  shot  her  a  furious  glance,  the 
glance  was  returned  with  hauteur;  for  Euphemia,  a 
dashing  brunette,  had  wickedly  arrayed  herself  in  scar 
let,  and  all  the  shine  had  fled  from  Minnie's  timid  pink. 
Jack,  again  introduced,  fared  no  better  than  before. 

"  Come  here,  my  darling,  let  me  straighten  your  net," 
said  the  blonde,  affectionately,  and  as  she  arranged  the 
curls  whispered  low,  "  I'll  fix  you  for  this,  Miss  Spite 
ful." 

"  Is  it  all  done  ?  Thank  you,  dear,"  answered  Phemia, 
with  the  rising  inflection,  and  took  her  seat,  all  smiles. 
"  Oh,  Mr.  Gaunt,  what  do  you  think  of  the  situation  in 
the  South  ?  Isn't  it  just  terrible  ?  " 

"What  are  we  coming  to,  Mr.  Gaunt?  oh,  what  do 
you  think  of  it  ? "  chimed  in  Minnie,  placing  the  table 
between  her  and  that  terrible  scarlet. 

"Whew,  is  it  even  so?"  thought  Jack  to  himself; 
and  finding  no  consolation  in  the  survey  of  his  boots  or 
the  figures  on  the  yellow  medallion  carpet,  began  to 


208  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

explore  the  room :  the  mantelpiece  with  its  gilt  clock 
and  its  tinted  china  figures  of  modest  shepherds  and 
setter-dogs,  the  gay  worsted  antimacassars  pinned  on 
the  rosewood  chairs  which  looked  as  if  they  were  lying 
in  wait  to  catch  in  his  coat ;  the  splendid  what-not  laden 
with  crystals  and  china,  the  gilt  chandelier  with  sixteen 
magnificent  candles,  and  the  gilt  cornices  over  the 
windows.  On  the  walls  hung  crayon  portraits  of  the 
family,  all  consistently  atrocious :  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Blodgett 
as  affectionate  bride  and  groom,  Mr.  Blodgett  with 
watch  in  hand  and  seals  showing,  looking  very  pompous 
and  magisterial  at  the  age  of  forty-five ;  Mrs.  Blodgett 
holding  in  her  arms  her  first-born ;  Sam  in  his  first 
trousers  ;  Minnie  at  the  age  of  five,  nine,  and  fifteen  ; 
Phemie  at  the  age  of  four,  seven,  and  twelve,  etc.  Jack 
had  progressed  as  far  as  the  tenth  in  line  when  there 
came  another  patter  from  the  steps  and  Miss  Adelaide 
entered,  looking  fresh  and  simple  in  a  dress  of  white 
flowered  muslin,  which  further  accentuated  the  clashing 
of  the  other  toilettes. 

"That you,  Mr.  Gaunt?  Heard  you  upstairs.  Guess 
this  is  Mr.  Hazard,  ain't  it,  you  told  us  about?"  With 
this  Miss  Adelaide,  too,  joined  the  group  about  John. 

"Three,"  thought  Jack.  "Jack,  my  boy,  let's  hope 
the  dinner's  good." 

He  was  starting  through  the  family  album,  filled  with 
pictures  of  the  young  ladies  at  various  unbecoming  ages, 
when  Mrs.  Blodgett  arrived.  She  wore  light  yellow 
silk,  with  two  feathers  of  the  same  color  in  her  hair;  a 
lace  collar  fastened  with  a  large  cameo ;  two  hair  brace 
lets  on  her  plump  arms,  and  held  a  fan  to  her  teeth. 
Clinging  to  her  mother's  fingers  was  Florilla,  a  child  of 
ten,  tortured  with  tight  curls  and  dressed  in  exact  imita 
tion  of  mamma,  as  far  as  to  the  end  of  her  skirts.  Last 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  209 

cf  all,  in  bustled  a  burly,  puffing  figure,  with  fat  cheeks 
and  neck,  with  eyes  as  keen  and  disappearing  as  those 
of  a  hippopotamus ;  and  Blodgett,  completing  the  party, 
began  to  pump  both  young  men  by  the  hand,  meanwhile 
asking  their  health,  as  was  his  custom. 

"John,  John,  you're  lookin'  well,"  he  cried,  pumping 
to  the  right.  "Mr.  Hazard,  we've  waited  long  to  see 
you,"  pumping  to  the  left.  "  John,  brought  your  appe 
tite?  Mr.  Hazard,  hope  you  eat  well,  too." 

"  Now,  pa,  do  let  them  alone  before  you  have  shaken 
their  arms  off,"  interposed  Miss  Adelaide,  coming  to 
their  rescue.  "  Now  do  let  them  alone." 

"  What  ?  All  right,"  answered  Blodgett  with  perfect 
good  humor,  and  releasing  their  hands,  he  added,  to  put 
every  one  at  ease :  "  Girls,  been  makin'  up  to  the  young 
men?  Well,  well,  young  people  will  be  young  people." 
Three  faces  showed  signs  of  instant  confusion.  "  Well, 
well,  there !  What  have  I  said  ?  Come  on  in  to  dinner 
now.  I  never  can  talk  to  suit  my  girls.  If  you've  an 
eye  to  good  wine,  Mr.  Hazard,  I  can  promise  you  some 
of  the  best ;  not  another  bottle  like  it  in  town  —  had 
them  send  it  up  to-day  from  my  old  place." 

"  Isn't  father  awful !  "  whispered  the  elder  daughters, 
and  the  ice  thus  gracefully  broken,  the  party  moved  out, 
the  scarlet  and  the  pink  toilettes  keeping  the  white  mus 
lin  between  them. 

Dinner  over,  the  party  reappeared  in  the  same  order. 

"  And  now  for  some  music  !  "  cried  Blodgett.  "  Mr. 
Hazard,  you  should  hear  my  daughter  Minnie  go  it  on 
the  piano.  Minnie,  just  sit  down  and  rattle  us  off  some- 
thin'  with  a  dash  to  it." 

"  Oh,  father,  I  haven't  practised  for  so  long,"  Minnie 
said,  with  a  distressed  look  to  John. 


2IO 

"Tut,  tut!  What  were  you  doin'  this  mornin'  ? 
You  know  you're  a  rattler.  Wait  till  you  hear  her, 
Mr.  Hazard." 

Minnie,  thus  gracefully  introduced,  approached  the 
piano  with  many  protestations,  settled  her  pink  skirts, 
felt  of  her  net,  glanced  appealingly  about  twice  at  her 
mother,  and  pounded  off  something  which  was  announced 
in  a  whisper  to  be,  "  The  Black  Key  Mazurka." 

"  Phemie,  my  darling,"  said  Mrs.  Blodgett,  at  the  close 
of  the  thundering  performance,  "  help  your  sister  with 
her  music." 

"  I  can  read  a  bit,"  volunteered  Jack,  as  the  scarlet 
toilette  glanced  beseechingly  at  the  white  muslin. 

Miss  Minnie  gave  him  a  killing  look  as  he  presented 
himself  at  her  side,  and  fell  upon  another  piece,  which, 
being  "  Monastery  Bells,"  was  too  well  known  in  the 
community  to  require  identification.  When  Minnie  had 
risen,  flushed  and  modest  from  the  struggle,  Jack,  with 
out  waiting  to  be  asked,  plumped  down  in  the  vacated 
seat,  and  sang  them  a  couple  of  his  funniest  songs,  which 
set  the  room  in  a  roar,  and  brought  on  such  a  fit  of  the 
giggles  in  little  Florilla  that  that  young  lady  had  to  be 
revived  in  the  hall.  Every  one  was  surprised  and  de 
lighted  —  Jack  had  taken  them  all  by  storm. 

"  Now,  that's  something  like,"  said  Blodgett,  applaud 
ing  vociferously.  "  That's  the  sort  for  me,  John.  It's 
worth  all  them  everlasting  mazurkies  Minnie's  always 
playin'.  I'd  trade  them  all  for  that  last  song  of  your 
friend's  —  and  I'd  hate  to  tell  you,  John,  what. my  girls' 
music's  cost  me.  What's  this,  Mr.  Hazard,  you're  not 
off  ?  What,  already  ?  Put  another  cigar  in  your  pocket. 
You  must  come  often,  and  give  us  some  of  them  songs 
again." 

"Thank  you,  sir,  I  will  have  a  cigar — two?     Well, 


ARROWS   OF   THE   ALMIGHTY  211 

if  you  press  me."  Jack  made  his  adieux.  Was  it  only 
his  fancy  —  or  did  Miss  Euphemia  really  squeeze  his 
hand  a  little  tighter  than  the  others  ? 

"  You  will  explain  my  absence  to  Mr.  Wingate,"  said 
John,  going  to  the  door,  as  Jack,  nodding,  disappeared 
in  a  furor  of  good-bys. 

"  Now,  John,"  instantly  began  Blodgett,  his  whole 
manner  changing,  "follow  me,  and  we'll  get  down  to 
business." 

"  Oh,  father !  "  exclaimed  Mrs.  Blodgett 

"  Now,  pa ! "  came  a  chorus  of  remonstrance  from 
the  girls  at  this  sudden  kidnapping  of  the  only  remain 
ing  gentleman. 

"  Tut,  tut !  you  know  the  carriage  is  waitin',  and  it's 
time  you  were  off  to  the  party.  Come,  make  your  best 
bows,  and  no  sparking." 

John  made  his  excuses  as  gracefully  as  the  circum 
stances  permitted,  and  followed  his  host  into  the  study. 

"There,  no  more  women,"  cried  Blodgett,  turning 
the  key  in  the  lock.  "  John,  I  want  to  talk  to  you  on  a 
couple  of  big  things." 

He  threw  off  his  coat,  lit  another  cigar,  settled  down 
in  a  chair,  put  his  feet  on  the  desk,  and  said  suddenly,  — 

"  What  will  you  take  for  the  wharves  ? " 

"  The  wharves  ?     I  never  have  given  it  a  thought." 

"  Fix  a  figure." 

"Well,"  John  said  cautiously,  studying  his  man,  "sup 
pose  I  say  —  all  I  can  get." 

"  Will  you  sell,  anyway  ? " 

"  H'm,"  said  John,  non-committally. 

"  Exactly.     What  do  you  think  you  can  get  ? " 

"  Show  me  the  man  who  wants  them,"  said  John, 
with  a  smile,  "and  then  tell  me  how  badly  he  wants 
them." 


212  ARROWS  OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

"John,  John,  you  don't  trust  me  yet." 

"I  trust  no  one  in  business,"  John  returned,  with 
great  frankness,  "  as  I  have  often  told  you.  Is  it  the 
Lake  Company  ? " 

"  Right." 

"  H'm.    I've  been  expecting  it.    What  do  they  offer  ? " 

"One  hundred  thousand." 

"  No  good.  It  isn't  worth  that  to  me,  but  it's  worth  a 
good  deal  more  to  them.  They've  bought  up  everything 
else;  they  must  buy  this." 

"  Exactly."  Blodgett  puffed  away,  his  sharp  little 
eyes  twinkling  through  the  smoke.  "Said  so  myself; 
but  I'd  sell,  John  — I'd  sell." 

"  Have  you  an  interest  in  the  Lake  Company  ?  "  John 
stopped  short,  looking  down  upon  him  suspiciously. 
"  How  do  I  know  your  motive  ? " 

"  Because,  my  boy,  they've  come  to  me  and  offered 
me  a  commission  to  buy  it  on  the  quiet,  and  I've  told 
you.  They  will  go  125,000,  or  60,000  with  an  interest 
in  the  stock.  Raise  both  figures  5000,  my  commission, 
and  that's  what  you  can  get  direct.  I  tell  you  again,  sell." 

"  Why  do  you  want  me  to  sell  ?  I  know  you  have  an 
object.  Now  what  is  it  ?  I  should  take  the  interest." 

"You'll  do  no  such  thing,"  Blodgett  cried,  with  a  snap 
of  his  fingers.  Down  came  the  boots,  crash  on  the  floor. 
He  began  to  talk  quickly,  in  his  characteristic  manner 
punctuating  his  remarks  with  slaps  of  his  hands.  "  Now, 
you  listen  to  me.  [Slap.]  Why  did  I  sell  out  to  you? 
Because  I  saw  it  wouldn't  last.  It  won't  last.  [Slap.] 
The  railroads  are  goin'  to  get  the  trade,  mark  that;  I 
don't  say  all,  but  in  ten  years  you  can't  get  a  third  of 
what's  offered  you  to-day.  I  never  yet  found  a  good 
thing  that  would  last.  [Slap,  slap.]  There's  big  money 
in  railroads  now.  The  time  will  come  when  competition 


ARROWS  OF  THE   ALMIGHTY  213 

will  cut  their  profits  down  too,  mark  that.  But  at  pres 
ent  there's  money  in  it  —  not  a  hundred  thousand,  John, 
but  millions.  [Three  slaps.]  The  Lake  Company  is  a 
fool  to  offer  you  what  they  do ;  but  you're  not  the  man 
I've  sized  you  up  for,  if  you  lose  the  chance." 

"There's  a  good  deal  in  what  you  say,"  answered 
John,  toying  with  a  pencil.  "  I  don't  think  the  lake 
traffic  will  be  ruined  —  but  it's  going  to  be  cut  down 
more  and  more.  That's  right.  So  you  want  me  to  get 
out  of  the  wharves  —  to  do  what  ? " 

"I've  a  notion  to  go  into  the  Western  railroad  —  had 
a  big  offer  last  month,  and  I  want  you  to  join  hands 
with  me.  There,  that's  my  object.  Think  it  over,  John. 
It's  a  chance  that  comes  once  in  a  lifetime.  It's  big  — 
the  biggest  thing  to-day.  That  railroad  is  goin'  right 
through  to  the  coast  in  time.  I'm  makin'  up  a  pool. 
Hutton's  in  it,  and  so  is  Senator  Wingate." 

"  What  is  your  pool  ?  " 

"  Fifty  thousand  shares." 

"What  figure?" 

"  Fifty  per  cent." 

"  To  what  extent  could  I  go  in  ? " 

"  Seventy-five  thousand  dollars." 

John  stopped,  pursed  his  lips,  turned  on  his  heel,  went 
to  the  desk  and  began  to  scribble  on  a  piece  of  paper. 

"  So  you  accept  ? "  cried  Blodgett,  springing  up. 

John  nodded.  "  I  am  writing  the  Lake  Company 
they  can  have  it  at  125,000." 

"  The  best  stroke  you  ever  did,  or  ever  will  do  in  your 
life.  Give  me  your  hand.  There,  I'm  proud  of  you. 
Good  for  you !  You  never  will  believe  it,  but,  John, 
I'd  do  anything  to  help  you  along." 

John  shook  him  heartily  by  the  hand. 

"Just  to  you,  John  :  the  Western  wants  more  capital. 


a  14  ARROWS  OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

They  are  going  to  spread  out  and  lay  more  lines.  The 
offer  holds  open  for  several  months  yet.  We're  takin' 
our  time.  Nothing  hurried  about  it.  May  take  a  year 
before  everything's  ready.  Come  in  Saturday  and  talk 
it  over  more.  It's  late  now  —  I  know  your  habits." 

"  I'm  glad  to  hear  Senator  Wingate's  in  with  us,"  said 
John,  as  they  walked  to  the  door.  "  I  have  a  fine  opin 
ion  of  him." 

"Well  now,  he  don't  seem  to  dislike  you,"  Blodgett 
added,  with  a  chuckle.  "  Had  a  talk  with  him  to-day, 
told  him  a  few  things ;  how  you  got  ahead  of  me,  you 
know,  and  about  the  Irishman." 

"  My  past  is  bound  to  stick  to  me  wherever  I  go. 
Heaven  only  knows  where  you've  stretched  the  story  to 
by  this  time.  Well,  be  easy  on  me ;  good  night." 

They  shook  hands  and  parted  :  Blodgett  well  satisfied 
to  have  joined  his  friend  to  him,  and  John  to  tramp  home 
under  the  stars,  turning  over  in  his  mind  the  memories 
of  his  first  days  in  Cleveland.. 


CHAPTER  XXII 

ONE  day  six  years  before,  John  and  Jack,  having 
been  then  a  week  in  Cleveland,  had  gone  into  Shinn's 
restaurant  for  lunch.  Looking  about  them  somewhat 
bewildered  by  the  rattle  of  the  dishes,  the  sharp  call  of 
the  bells,  the  swift  waiters,  and  the  hum  and  the  eyes 
of  many  men,  they  had  finally  installed  themselves  at 
a  little  side  table,  already  half  occupied  by  two  young 
fellows  with  whom  they  had  a  speaking  acquaintance, 
Morton  and  Francis,  both,  like  themselves,  in  search  of 
work. 

As  they  were  ordering  a  modest  meal  from  a  sandy- 
haired  waitress  who  prompted  them  impatiently,  a  dry, 
gaudy  fellow  lounged  up  and  began  talking  to  their 
table  companions,  regardless  of  the  fact  that  he  was 
blocking  the  passage  to  the  neighboring  tables. 

"  Mr.  Blodgett  —  Mr.  Hazard,  Mr.  Gaunt,"  vouch 
safed  Morton. 

The  newcomer  turned,  gave  them  a  half-nod,  said, 
"  How  dee  do,  gentlemen.  Cigar,  any  of  you  ?  you, 
Francis?  Worth  taking,"  and  after  a  slight  alterca 
tion  with  the  waitress,  continued,  "  Well,  ta-ta !  See 
you  to-night.  I'm  off  to  the  office.  Governor's  all 
riled  up  about  Cable." 

"  What,  Cable,  superintendent  of  the  wharves  ? " 
cried  Moore,  catching  his  sleeve. 

"He's  thrown  up  the  job  —  too  rough — constitution 
too  tender.  I  say,  Morton,  you're  strong  enough.  Why 

215 


216  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

don't  you  apply  —  you  or  Francis  ?  Pay's  good.  Well, 
ta-ta!" 

Moore  looked  at  Francis,  John  at  Jack. 

"  Well  ?  "  said  Moore. 

"  Well  ?  "  echoed  Francis. 

"  I'm  going  to  write  now." 

"  So'm  I." 

The  two  gave  a  laugh,  pulled  out  pencil  and  paper, 
had  a  boy  summoned  from  the  street,  and  scribbled 
away  at  their  applications.  John,  who  had  been  looking 
steadily  at  Jack,  closed  the  farther  eye  and  rose. 

"  Get  a  cigar  for  me,  too,"  Jack  said  carelessly. 
"  And  while  you're  about  it,  drop  out  and  get  a  paper." 

Ten  minutes  later  John  was  before  the  magnate. 

"Griffin  says  you  insisted  upon  seein'  me,"  said  the 
burly  figure  in  shirt-sleeves,  without  looking  up  from 
his  desk.  "  Young  man,  do  you  know  my  rules  about 
office  hours  ? " 

"  I  do  not,  Mr.  Blodgett ;  but  if  I  had,  I  should  still 
have  insisted  on  seeing  you." 

"  What !  "  The  ponderous  figure  whirled  about,  and 
the  twinkling  little  eyes  covered  John  from  head  to 
foot.  "  State  your  business." 

"  First,  sir,  am  I  right  in  saying  that  the  position  of 
superintendent  of  the  wharves  is  vacant  ? " 

There  was  an  angry  clang  of  the  bell. 

"  Griffin,  show  this  young  man  out." 

"One  moment;  not  yet,"  said  John,  resolutely,  turn 
ing  his  shoulder  on  the  appearing  clerk.  "  Mr.  Blod 
gett,  I  want  that  position.  Ten  minutes  ago,  while 
lunching  at  Shinn's,  your  son  informed  some  friends  of 
his  that  Cable  had  thrown  up  his  position.  I  happened 
to  overhear  him." 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  217 

i 

"  Stop,"  said  Blodgett,  suddenly.  "  Griffin,  what  have 
you  got  in  your  hand  ?  give  'em  to  me."  He  took  two 
letters,  tore  them  apart,  and  mumbled  through  them. 
"  'Dear  Sir  [h'm  —  h'm],  I  write  you  applying  [h'm  — 
h'm],  shall  call  upon  you  at  your  office  hours  to-morrow 
morning.'  Signed  R.  or  B.  or  P.  Francis.  Now  for 
the  other.  '  Mr.  Blodgett,  Dear  Sir  [h'm,  that's  better], 
make  application  [yes,  yes],  reference  [yes].  Shall 
take  liberty  to  call  on  you  as  soon  as  I  have  finished 
my  lunch.'  Signed,  Norton  —  Horton  —  no,  Morton. 
H'm,  h'm,  them  the  ones,  young  man?" 

"  They  are,  sir." 

"  And  you  ? " 

"  I  left  in  the  middle  of  the  meal,"  said  John,  sitting 
down. 

"  Humph !     Suppose  it  had  been  at  night  ? " 

"  I  should  have  gone  to  your  house." 

"  Griffin,  what  are  you  standing  about  for  ?  Leave 
the  room,"  cried  Blodgett,  abruptly.  "  And  so,  young 
man,  you  want  me  to  give  you  that  position  ?  " 

"  I  do  not." 

"  What  ? " 

"  I  ask  a  week's  trial." 

Blodgett  glanced  at  the  card,  and  said  sharply,  — 

"  State  what  experience  you've  had." 

"Absolutely  none,  excepting  managing  for  a  while 
my  own  estate." 

"  Can't  do  it,  then,  can't  do  it ;  can't  give  it  to  you, 
Mr.  Gaunt.  I  like  your  ways,  but  I  can't  give  it  to 
you,  if  you've  had  no  experience." 

"You  continue  to  misunderstand.  I  am  asking  for 
a  trial  to  convince  myself,  as  well  as  you,  what  I  can 
do." 

"  You  don't  know  a  thing  about  it.     Cable  is  the  fifth 


2i8  ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

in  three  months,  and  they  almost  killed  him.  There's 
a  riot  there  every  week." 

"  Good !  that's  what  I  want.  Now  I  -must  have 
it." 

Blodgett  ran  his  eye  over  the  young  fellow's  propor 
tions,  scratched  his  ear  a  moment,  clicked  his  lips,  and 
said :  "  You  have  an  answer  ready  for  anything.  Do 
you  think  you  can  force  me  to  give  you  this  place  ?" 

"  Mr.  Blodgett,  how  would  you  have  done  ? " 

"There — answered!"  Blodgett  brought  his  fist 
down  with  a  crash.  "  You  shall  have  your  chance. 
When  will  you  begin?" 

John,  seeing  how  to  take  him,  sprang  up.  "  How 
long  do  you  make  it  to  the  wharves  ?  " 

"  Young  man,  you  have  begun  well ;  I  like  your 
ways,"  said  Blodgett,  getting  up  in  turn,  and  taking 
down  his  hat.  "  You  come  with  me." 

On  the  morning  after  Blodgett  had  shown  him  his 
duties,  John  started  forth  to  begin.  That  his  path 
would  be  no  easy  one,  he  fully  realized.  The  wharf- 
gangs  were  composed  of  the  blackguards  and  bullies 
of  the  city,  scarcely  one  whose  name  was  clear  of  the 
police-court  records.  The  element  of  danger  roused 
the  adventurous  blood  in  the  young  fellow,  and  he 
resolved  to  give  them  an  object  lesson.  Down  the 
crude  streets  he  went,  splashing  over  muddy  crossings, 
breathing  all  the  zest  and  feeling  all  the  future  of  the 
soaring  city.  Here  at  last  was  his  element ;  here  were 
life  and  ambition,  energy  and  success.  He  caught  the 
alert  look  in  the  eyes  of  the  passers-by,  and  his  own 
step  gained  a  quicker  swing.  Everywhere  was  growth, 
everywhere  were  the  signs  of  the  builder. 

As  he  entered  the  yard  two  stout  fellows  were  groan- 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  219 

ing  under  a  block  of  granite,  while  a  dozen  villanous- 
looking  hands  were  lounging  about  the  pier. 

John  cast  his  eyes  about,  saw  the  situation  quickly, 
and,  striding  up  to  the  two  who  were  carrying  the 
granite,  broke  out  in  his  sternest  voice :  "  Here,  no 
shirking.  What  are  you  grumbling  over  —  you  at  the 
back  ?  " 

The  loafers  stopped  their  aimless  wandering,  looking 
on  in  anticipation,  as  the  man  "behind  growled  surlily, 
"  If  you  think  it's  so  damned  easy,  try  it  yourself." 

"  Put  that  down  !  "  the  new  superintendent  roared  so 
fiercely  that  the  block  dropped  with  a  thump  to  the 
ground.  "  I've  a  mind  to  break  your  head  for  that. 
Get  back  ;  I'll  show  you !  Where  is  this  to  go  ?  "  He 
flung  off  his  coat,  stooped  down,  seized  the  block  in 
both  hands,  and  bore  it  off  to  its  destination. 

The  men  came  crowding  around  in  amazement.  John 
placed  his  burden  on  the  ground  and  drew  back. 

"  Here,  bring  up  that  coat,"  he  cried ;  and  a  man 
obeyed  quickly.  "  Now,  my  men,  you  know  what  I 
can  do.  Understand  me,  I  am  going  to  be  master  here. 
I  don't  expect  to  convince  you  without  a  fight,  and 
you'll  have  one  if  you  want  it ;  but  when  you  do,  look 
out!  Get  that  into  your  heads,  and  we'll  get  along 
very  well  together." 

The  time  will  never  come  when  men  will  cease  to 
admire  brute  strength  ;  the  tribute  is  involuntary.  From 
that  moment,  John  had  won  his  battle  over  all  except 
Fenn,  the  chief  bully  of  the  gang.  He  resolved  not  to  let 
the  sun  go  down  without  settling  the  crisis  once  for  all. 

That  afternoon  the  opportunity  came  as  they  were 
working  out  toward  the  end  of  a  covered  pier,  storing 
up  a  cargo  of  barrels  for  shipment.  They  were  clear 
ing  a  space,  when  Fenn  lounged  up  —  a  strapping  Irish- 


22O 

man,  three  inches  over  six  feet,  and  a  solid  mass  of 
brawn.  John,  from  the  corner  of  his  eye,  watched  him 
stop  undecidedly,  as  though  hesitating  how  to  resent 
the  intrusion  of  the  newcomer.  Resolved  to  catch  him 
beforehand,  John  wheeled  sharply  and  cried,  — 

"  Fenn,  take  charge  of  this  rope  here." 

"Give  your  orders  to  some  one  you  can  lick,"  the 
other  growled  back  impudently,  with  a  scattering  of 
oaths. 

They  were  standing  by  an  open  doorway.  In  a  flash 
of  anger,  John  caught  him  suddenly  around  the  waist, 
and  with  all  his  strength  in  his  back,  flung  him  head 
long  over  his  shoulders  splash  into  the  lake. 

"  He's  drowning,  mister !  " 

"  He's  under  once !  " 

"  He  can't  swim !  " 

A  chorus  of  shouts  arose  amid  the  scramble  to  the 
side.  John  stepped  to  the  window,  saw  a  foaming  cir 
cle  in  the  black  water,  and  a  frantic  arm  outstretched, 
and  crying,  "  Shore  —  send  boat!  "  dived  in,  and  caught 
the  sinking  man  by  the  collar.  The  pier  stretched  into 
deep  water,  and  the  man  was  crazed  with  terror.  It 
was  all  John  could  do  to  bring  him  under  the  rope  some 
one  threw  out.  Indeed,  it  might  have  gone  ill  with 
both  had  not  the  rowboat,  arriving  at  the  moment  his 
strength  was  ebbing,  brought  them  safe  ashore. 

So  ended  all  attempts  at  rebellion.  From  that  hour 
his  rule  was  undisputed,  while  Fenn  would  have  gone 
through  fire  at  his  bidding. 

On  the  fourth  day  of  his  trial,  Blodgett  called  him 
into  the  office,  clapped  him  on  the  shoulder,  his  eyes 
twinkling,  as  they  always  did  when  he  was  pleased,  and 
said  :  "  Well,  Mr.  Gaunt,  I  guess  I'm  convinced.  How 
'bout  you  ? "  And  as  there  seemed  to  be  no  doubt  in 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  221 

the  young  fellow's  mind,  it  was  decided  then  and  there 
that  John  should  thus  begin  his  business  career. 

His  coming  wrought  a  revolution  on  the  wharves. 
Blodgett  used  to  vow,  with  a  laugh,  that  John  kept  him 
awake  of  nights  trying  to  keep  him  busy.  At  the  end 
of  the  second  year  an  unexpected  bit  of  good  fortune 
befell  him,  in  the  shape  of  a  legacy  of  twenty  thousand 
dollars  from  Colonel  Pickstaff,  who  at  the  last  had  re 
membered  Emily  Orkney's  child.  With  this  sum,  he 
was  received  into  partnership  by  Blodgett,  who  two 
years  later,  having  many  interests  to  watch,  sold  him 
a  controlling  share,  and  retired  from  active  participa 
tion.  During  all  these  years,  John  had  shunned  society. 
He  had  thrown  himself  absolutely  into  his  business, 
building  new  storehouses  and  piers,  until  the  firm  had 
become  a  power. 

"  One  hundred  and  twenty-five  thousand  in  six  years," 
thought  John,  as  he  picked  his  way  over  the  ill-paved 
streets.  "  That  is  something  accomplished,  at  least. 
Well,  I  have  had  to  bury  myself  to  do  it.  How  little 
we  know  what  we  shall  do.  When  I  came  here,  I 
thought  I  should  fall  into  a  wild  life,  to  drown  the  ugly 
memories  I  had  left  behind.  Instead,  here  I  am  —  a 
steady,  matter-of-fact  business  man,  absolutely  absorbed 
in  my  ambition.  I  don't  see  why  I  have  escaped,  except 
that  I  am  such  an  old  corner-lover.  What  an  unsocia 
ble  brute  men  must  think  me!  So  I  am.  Six  years 
gone,"  he  added  softly,  as  he  came  in  sight  of  his 
windows.  "  Six  years  out  of  my  life,  and  what  have  I 
learned  in  them  ?  Nothing,  absolutely  nothing.  Yes, 
one  thing  —  not  to  seek  what  I  cannot  know.  Do  all 
men  learn  to  close  their  minds  —  to  become  mere  au 
tomatons,  I  wonder.  Lord,  that's  all  I  am.  Heigho, 


222  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

what  a  queer  world  this  is !  I  used  to  feel  so  cock-sure 
of  my  opinions  when  I  was  a  boy,  and  now ! "  He 
lifted  his  shoulders  and  continued  musingly :  "  Will 
some  one  please  tell  me  what  things  our  moods  are  ? 
Here  I  have  made  a  splendid  stroke,  with  the  prospects 
of  a  great  opening  ahead,  everything  to  excite  my  ambi 
tion,  and  yet,  at  this  very  moment,  I  vow  I  am  as  glum 
in  the  bottom  of  my  heart  as  I  can  be.  Well,  thank 
Heaven,  Jack  is  at  home." 

He  slipped  the  key  into  the  door,  and  flung  into  their 
rooms,  crying,  "  Where  is  the  favorite  ?  " 

A  little  figure,  standing  on  a  chair  against  the  oppo 
site  wall,  looked  round  and  cried,  "  Guilty,  your  honor." 

Pedigree,  the  yellow  cur,  and  Raggs,  whom  Jack 
always  spoke  of  as  a  connection  of  the  Skye  terrier, 
came  barking  up  in  welcome. 

"Jack,  really,  the  Duns  are  irresistible." 

"  Didn't  it  go  fine,  though  ?  "  said  Jack,  with  a  grin, 
still  maintaining  his  precarious  position.  "  Methought 
Euphemia  —  But  stop,  that  is  a  confidence.  You  bear 
me  no  ill-will  ?  " 

"  None  at  all.     Now  what  are  you  up  to  ? " 

"Here,  pass  me  up  the  hammer.  I'm  getting  virtu 
ous.  I'm  going  to  make  the  room  respectable." 

John  passed  up  the  hammer  and  installed  himself 
curiously  by  the  fire,  while  Jack  proceeded  to  weed 
among  the  sporting  prints  on  the  wall  until  a  whole 
corps  de  ballet  lay  scattered  on  the  floor.  Then  he 
dropped  to  his  feet  and  surveyed  the  work  with  great 
satisfaction. 

"  Well,  what  is  the  meaning  of  this  ? "  the  senior 
member  of  the  rooms  inquired,  with  a  quizzical  rise  of 
his  brows. 

"  I  suppose  you'd  like  to  know  ?  " 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  223 

"  I  am  curious." 

"  Well,  I'm  not  going  to  tell  you.  It  suits  me  to  do 
it.  There,  I  defy  you  !  "  Jack  stooped  and  thrust  the 
scraps  into  the  fire.  "  Ugh,  good  riddance !  I  never 
could  understand  how  you  took  any  pleasure  in  such 
vulgar  subjects." 

"  I  ? " 

"  Change  the  subject.  By  the  way,  you're  not  shaky 
in  a  certain  direction,  are  you  ? " 

"  What  direction  ? " 

"  The  Blodgetts." 

"  Explain." 

"You  don't  fancy  —  that  is  to  say,  contemplate  an 
alliance  in  that  direction.  The  old  man  would  come 
down  handsomely  to  get  you,  I  should  say." 

John  burst  into  such  a  roar  that  Jack's  doubts  were 
at  once  dispelled. 

"  Because  they've  set  their  caps  for  you,  every  one  of 
them,  my  boy." 

"  Absurd." 

"  And  the  mother,  worst  of  all." 

"  But  that's  bigamy,  Jack." 

"  Don't  quibble.  You  know  what  I  mean.  And  it  is 
my  opinion,  having  lived  with  you  over  eight  years,  John 
Gaunt,  that  you  are  not  as  innocent  as  you  look." 

The  next  moment  a  book  went  flying  by  his  head. 

"  Even  so.     Don't  you  do  it,  John,  don't  you  do  it." 

"  Do  what,  you  old  fraud  ? " 

"  Marry  one  of  them  —  not  for  all  the  old  boy's  gold. 
I  don't  often  talk  against  people,  but  it  simply  won't 
do ! " 

"  So  you  think  —  "  said  John,  rising,  and  taking  down  a 
pipe  from  amid  the  assortment  of  Derby  winners,  cham 
pions  of  the  ring,  sabres,  and  nondescript  weapons  on  the 


224  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

wall  — "you  think  I'm  becoming  so  absorbed  in  com 
merce  that  I'd  marry  for  money  ?  Thank  Heaven,  I'm 
not  tempted  that  way.  Here's  a  piece  of  news  for  you." 
And  stretching  out  on  the  green  divan  by  the  window, 
slowly,  with  many  puffs,  he  told  his  chum  of  the  night's 
transactions. 

"Whew  —  whew-ew!"  Jack  whistled  in  astonish 
ment,  at  the  close.  "  You  old  luxurious  rascal !  I  knew 
you  were  making  money,  but  I  never  suspected  this." 

He  stood  looking  down  at  the  great  figure  spread 
on  the  divan.  "  So  John's  a  rich  man  —  my  humble 
room-mate.  Sir,  I  salute  you.  Puff  away,  cross  your 
legs,  take  it  easy;  so  would  I.  I  say,  magnate,  is  there 
any  humble  position  at  your  disposal,  such  as  blacker  of 
the  imperial  boots  ?  Also,  how  soon  will  you  forsake 
these  modest  rooms?" 

"  Never,"  said  John,  solemnly ;  "  never,  unless  you  go 
with  me.  Don't  think  because  I  am  beginning  to  rise 
I  can  forget  my  old  friend.  No,  no,  Jack;  you  don't 
mean  that  ? " 

"  Very  properly  answered,  and  I  should  be  ashamed 
of  myself." 

"  You  might  send  me  in  a  bill  for  good  advice,"  John 
continued,  with  a  smile;  "only  my  account  wouldn't 
stand  it  yet." 

"  Your  most  humble,  obliged,  and  obedient  servant," 
said  Jack ;  and  he  put  his  hand  to  his  heart,  and  bowed 
to  the  floor  in  true  Hazard  style. 

John,  with  a  yawn,  shook  out  his  pipe,  put  down  the 
cat  who  had  snuggled  up  to  him,  and  began  to  undress. 

"  Well,  Jack,  the  senator  is  a  fine  old  fellow,  isn't  he  ? " 

"  That  he  is ;  but  Mrs.  Wingate  —  I  don't  go  in  so 
much  for  her." 

"  You   don't,    eh  ? "    said    John,  examining   a   boot. 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 


225 


"  Reckon  she  makes  life  pretty  hard  for  him,  doesn't 
she  ? " 

"  Too  virtuous.  He  bears  it  like  an  angel,  though." 
He  glanced  about  at  the  blank  spaces  on  the  wall,where 
a  moment  before  a  dozen  coryphees  had  pirouetted  and 
smirked.  "And  John,  I  say,  Marjory  —  you  must  meet 
her — she  is  one  of  the  finest." 

"  Hello  !  "  John  bobbed  out  of  his  room  in  surprise 
at  a  statement  from  such  a  quarter. 

"  Yes,  I  mean  it.  She  is  true  and  kind  and  simple 
and  frank,  and  I  tell  you,  John,  if  —  if —  " 

"If  what  —  what  next?" 

"  If  you  ever  marry,  as  I  know  you  will,  I  hope 
you  won't  be  caught  by  any  vulgar,  flaunting  woman, 
but'll  find  some  one  as  good  and  sweet  as  Marjory 
Win  gate." 

"  And  why  not  you  ? "  asked  John,  coming  up  and 
looking  him  earnestly  in  the  eyes ;  "  why  don't  you  go 
in  and  win  her  ?  " 

"  I  ?  "  —  he  turned  a  little  under  John's  questioning 
glance — "I  ?  Well,  you  see  I'm  a  kind  of  a  strolling 
troubadour.  I  hang  my  guitar  on  everybody's  door,  and 
sing  to  any  one.  My  themes  are  light.  I  think  I  am 
put  in  the  world  to  laugh  and  make  others  laugh. 
What !  win  a  woman,  a  fine  woman's  love  ?  No,  no  — 
John,  you  see,  though  you've  often  envied  me  my  tem 
perament,  I  know  better.  He  who  gets  every  one's 
friendship  can  seldom  win  one  person's  love.  There, 
what  a  long  speech  !  " 

"Jack,  Jack,  what  is  in  you  to-night?  Why,  you're 
a  confirmed  bachelor." 

"  So  I  am,"  said  Jack,  hastily,  with  an  attempt  at  a 
laugh.  "  I'm  not  a  marrying  man.  I'd  drive  a  woman 
crazy  at  the  end  of  a  year  with  my  pets  and  my 
Q 


226  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

eccentric  ways,  or  —  or  she'd  drive  me.  Thank  you,  no. 
I  know  my  limitations."  He  looked  up  quickly  into 
his  friend's  puzzled  face,  and  twirled  the  ends  of  his 
Dundrearies  with  an  effort  at  gayety.  "  Why  do  I  talk 
like  this  ?  Well,  John,  just  as  you  get  downhearted  and 
dissatisfied  sometimes  because  you  are  not  more  hail- 
fellow-well-met,  so  you  see  I,  too,  sometimes  get  unut 
terably  tired  of  laughing  and  making  other  people  laugh, 
and  wish  to  change.  Voild!" 

"  I  give  you  up,"  said  John,  going  back  to  his  room. 
"  I've  lived  with  you  all  this  time  and  watched  you  right 
close,  but  I  don't  understand  you  a  bit.  I  think  there's 
a  good  deal  of  the  woman  in  you." 

"  Perhaps.     I've  thought  so  myself.     Ho,  ho  !  " 

He  stretched  his  arms  above  his  head  and  gave  a 
prodigious  yawn. 

"Jack!" 

"What?" 

"  You  gave  the  senator  my  excuses  ? " 

"I  did;  but  he  expects  you  soon." 

"  I'll  go  around  to-morrow  night,"  said  John,  turning 
over  on  his  pillow. 

The  junior  partner,  thus  deserted,  opened  the  window 
and  examined  the  cages,  took  out  the  squirrel,  who  ran 
through  his  pockets  for  nuts,  coaxed  him  back  into  the 
cage  again,  put  puss,  rubbing  at  his  leg,  away  for  the 
night,  tucked  the  dogs  into  their  boxes,  stood  a  moment 
before  the  glass  pulling  the  silky  whiskers,  drew  a  heavy 
sigh,  twice  shook  his  head  slowly,  picked  up  the  lamp, 
and  stole  into  his  room  and  went  to  bed. 


CHAPTER   XXIII 

THE  next  night,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wingate  going  out, 
Marjory  was  left  alone.  She  went  to  her  room,  drew 
up  her  chair  by  the  window,  lit  the  lamp,  and  prepared 
to  read,  very  well  content.  But  it  was  not  long  before 
the  volume  dropped  on  her  lap  and  her  head  fell  back 
meditatively.  For  a  while  she  remained  thus,  until  at 
last,  obeying  an  impulse,  she  turned  down  the  lamp  and 
flung  wide  the  curtains  to  let  in  the  stars. 

From  her  earliest  childhood,  in  her  deepest  moods  she 
had  been  a  lover  of  solitude.  No  one,  except  perhaps 
her  father,  had  ever  understood  the  shy,  sensitive  child. 
She  sought  seclusion  —  poring  in  the  library ;  rummag 
ing  out  its  secret  treasures ;  revelling  in  the  glorious 
"  Arabian  Nights "  and  the  satisfying  Waverley  Nov 
els  ;  weeping  over  little  Nell  and  trembling  at  Fagin ; 
and  at  night  she  would  lie  awake  and  build  stories,  finer 
than  all  of  them,  with  the  most  bewitching  heroines  and 
the  manliest  heroes. 

As  she  passed  into  girlhood  she  gathered  the  younger 
children  at  her  knee,  and  held  them  in  open-eyed  atten 
tion  with  delightful  or  thrilling  tales  that  she  spun,  hour 
after  hour.  But  when,  longing  for  sympathy,  she  sought 
for  further  audiences,  the  older  boys,  in  brotherly  fashion, 
with  their  rough  teasing,  put  to  shame  these  shy  out 
pourings  of  her  imagination,  so  that  they  shrank  away 
and  hid  themselves.  The  child,  after  the  first  few 
rebuffs,  withdrew  into  herself.  She  never  dreamed  of 

227 


228  ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

seeking  out  her  mother.  Mrs.  Wingate  frowned  sternly 
upon  such  frivolities  as  novels,  and  did  her  best  to  sub 
stitute  Baxter's  "Saints'  Rest"  and  the  "  Lives  of  the 
Three  Mrs.  Judsons." 

So  the  child  hugged  her  darling  fancies  to  her  breast, 
and  roamed  through  the  wonderlands  in  secret,  in  sum 
mer  lying  in  the  shade  of  a  tree,  or  in  winter  camped 
by  the  hearth  with  only  her  favorite  dog  to  wink  ap 
proval. 

At  fifteen  she  had  already  assumed  the  burdens  of 
the  household.  The  mother,  whose  time  was  precious, 
and  was  needed  for  higher  things,  willingly  accepted 
the  transfer  of  responsibility.  Thus  the  girl  stepped 
quickly  into  the  woman.  She  had  hardly  known  the 
careless  joys  of  a  free  girlhood.  Her  true  nature  was 
fettered  under  the  further  responsibilities  and  worries 
that  fell  upon  her  when  Harry  and  Steve  forsook  their 
home,  and  her  mother  began  to  turn  on  hot-headed 
Dick,  and  she  saw  the  trouble  stealing  into  her  father's 
face. 

Her  real  nature  no  one  knew  —  not  even  she  herself. 
At  the  bottom  of  her  temperament  she  was  all  sunshine, 
a  merry,  laughing  spirit,  full  of  poetry  and  romance,  of 
love  of  the  woods  and  skies,  —  a  serious  little  thinker, 
thirsting  for  knowledge.  But  her  real  nature  was  yet 
in  bondage,  under  the  lock  and  key  of  hostile  influences. 

Something  of  all  this,  in  a  vague,  unconscious  mood, 
came  to  her  as  she  lay  back  in  the  chair  watching  the 
stars  from  out  the  hidden  room.  Her  soul  was  straining 
at  its  leash,  longing  to  be  free,  unfettered,  with  liberty 
to  roam  at  will. 

"Why  am  I  so  restless?"  thought  the  girl.  "Why 
is  my  life  so  aimless  ?  What  good  am  I  doing  any  one  ? 
I  sometimes  feel  that  I  should  like  to  give  myself  up 


ARROWS  OF  THE   ALMIGHTY  229 

to  charity,  instead  of  drifting — -drifting."  She  turned 
the  word  over  in  her  mind.  "  I  am  drifting,  drifting, 
drifting.  How  different  it  all  was  ten  years  ago! 
What  a  little  dreamer  I  was  —  what  a  hopeless  little 
dreamer!"  She  put  her  hand  under  her  cheek  and 
slowly  shook  her  head.  "  What  is  it  that  I  lack  ?  I 
know,  and  yet  I  do  not  know.  What  is  wrong  ?  " 

Suddenly  there  broke  in  upon  her  thoughts  a  shuffling 
in  the  hall,  a  rap  on  the  door,  and  the  voice  of  the  but 
ler  calling.  She  sprang  up  hurriedly,  lit  the  lamp,  and 
called,  "  Come  in." 

A  black  head  peered  round  the  door. 

"  Gen'leman  see  you,  Miss  Ma'jory." 

"  Rufus,  I  expressly  told  you  I  would  see  no  one," 
she  cried  in  dismay  at  this  rude  forestalling  of  her 
dreams.  "  Go  right  downstairs  and  say  I  am  out. 
Give  me  the  card." 

Rufus,  looking  miserable,  extended  the  platter. 

"  Oh,  Mr.  Gaunt! "  exclaimed  Marjory,  as  she  glanced 
at  it.  "  Wait  a  moment,  Rufus.  Well,  say  I  will  be 
down." 

"  So  this  is  Mr.  Gaunt,"  thought  Marjory  when  the 
door  had  closed,  "  whom  I  have  heard  so  much  about 
—  the  man  Dick  has  picked  out  for  me,"  she  added 
with  a  smile.  Nevertheless,  she  proceeded  to  dress 
with  more  than  ordinary  pains. 

"  I  wonder  what  sort  of  man  he  is.  Something  like 
Mr.  Hazard,  probably,  who  is  a  dear.  He'll  rattle  away, 
a  little  more  gravely  maybe,  but  of  that  class.  A  good 
fellow,  with  of  course  something  in  the  background, 
like  all  the  men  I  know.  Rather  immature,  looking 
like  a  man  and  talking  like  a  boy,  and  it'll  try  my  wits 
to  keep  him  going.  A  man's  a  man.  Oh,  don't  I  know 
the  kind ! "  She  rejected  three  brooches  before  she 


230  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

found  the  proper  one.  "  I've  half  a  mind  to  begin 
solemnly, '  My  dear  Mr.  Gaunt,  what  do  you  think  of 
this  Transcendentalism  Mr.  Emerson  is  preaching?' 
Wouldn't  I  like  to  see  his  face !  But  no,  he's  been 
good  to  Dick,  and  that  shall  be  his  passport."  She 
stopped  a  moment,  then  with  a  playful  gesture  she 
caught  up  a  piece  of  paper  and  scribbled  down  her 
prophecy.  "  There  !  we  shall  see.  Well,  anyhow,  I  am 
looking  my  best  to-night." 

She  tripped  down  the  stairs  lightly,  and  there  at  the 
foot,  without  cause  or  reason,  she  waited  a  full  minute 
with  her  hand  on  the  door,  the  corners  of  her  mouth 
drawn  thoughtfully  down,  her  head  bent,  pensive,  hesi 
tating,  before  she  stepped  into  the  room. 

She  saw  a  strong  figure  pacing  to  and  fro  before  the 
fireplace,  that  at  the  rustle  of  her  entrance  wheeled  and 
came  forward.  The  moment  her  eyes  met  his  all  the 
lightness  of  her  demeanor  vanished.  "What  a  noble 
face,  and  what  a  sad  one ! "  she  thought.  A  wave  of 
sympathy  swept  over  her,  and  she  held  out  her  hand 
and  looked  up  at  him  kindly. 

John  saw  a  slender  figure  full  of  sweeping  grace  and 
dignity,  in  a  soft  cool  gown  of  turquoise  blue,  collar  and 
sleeves  of  soft  lace,  masses  of  brown  hair  under  a  net 
of  blue,  and  the  truest,  frankest  eyes  that  ever  looked 
into  his. 

"Jack  is  right,"  he  thought,  as  he  took  her  hand  and 
met  the  glance  that  was  saying  with  friendly  curiosity, 
"  And  this  is  John  Gaunt  ? " 

"And  so  this  is  Marjory,"  his  eyes  replied,  but  he 
said,  "  You  are  like  Dick ;  I  should  have  known  you." 

"And  indeed,"  said  Marjory  with  a  smile  and  a  blush, 
"  I  have  heard  so  much  of  you,  that  I  almost  feel  I  know 
you.  Then  Dick's  friend  is  my  friend,  you  know.  I 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  231 

am  sorry  to  tell  you  that  both  father  and  mother  are 
out."  ("  O  dear,"  she  added  to  herself,  "will  he  spoil 
everything  with  some  commonplace  remark  ? ") 

"  I  am  disappointed  to  miss  them.  I  was  counting  on 
a  talk  with  your  father,"  said  John.  "  I  have  taken  a 
great  liking  to  him." 

"  I  cannot  judge  —  I  am  too  prejudiced,"  Marjory 
answered,  looking  up  merrily.  "Take  this  chair." 

"  Let  me  stand,"  John  said,  as  they  passed  over  the 
red  carpet.  "  It  is  an  old  habit  of  mine ;  I  like  to  talk 
on  my  feet.  And  so  you  have  met  my  friend  Mr. 
Hazard.  Isn't  he  a  great  fellow  ? " 

Marjory  nodded,  with  a  suspicion  of  a  smile. 

"What,  did  he  make  some  blunder?"  John  cried,  per 
ceiving  the  look.  "  The  rascal !  He  never  told  me 
of  it." 

"Well,  yes,"  Marjory  admitted,  with  a  return  of  her 
smile. 

John  laughed  and  shook  his  head. 

"  The  rascal  never  told  me.  Poor  old  Jack,  he  is 
always  running  against  some  wall.  Somehow,  no  one 
minds  it  —  he's  always  been  a  privileged  character. 
Then,  too,  he's  never  gone  out  much ;  perhaps  I'm  to 
blame  there." 

"  I  think  you  are,"  said  Marjory,  frankly;  "you  have 
been  here  six  years,  and  no  one  has  had  more  than 
a  glimpse  of  you." 

"  I  reckon  I  am  a  little  pessimistic,"  admitted  John, 
and  he  began  to  walk  before  the  hearth.  "  It  isn't  that 
I  don't  like  people;  I  do;  but  I  reckon  it's  because  I 
ask  more  than  they  want  to  give,  or  I  have  a  right  to 
ask.  I  can  remember  when  I  was  a  young  fellow,  how 
hungry  I  used  to  be  to  meet  a  friend  to  whom  I  could 
talk  without  reservation,  and  see  what  he  was  thinking 


232  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

in  return.  But  I  never  found  one  —  not  a  true  one.  I 
must  have  puzzled  a  good  many  with  my  questions,  and 
it  used  to  puzzle  me  that  people  should  be  so  afraid  to 
show  me  their  thoughts." 

"  I  think  I  know  what  you  mean,"  said  Marjory,  and 
she  nodded  as  John  paused. 

"And  so  you  see,"  continued  John,  looking  down  at 
her  with  an  apologetic  smile,  "  I  grew  tired  of  fruit 
less  questionings.  I  care  very  little  for  making  new 
acquaintances.  I  am  tired  of  aimless  conversations. 
Why  should  I  give  up  my  time  trying  to  please  people 
who  are  never  anything  but  masks  to  me  ?  Then  I  have 
had  my  business.  I'm  afraid  it's  all  very  pessimistic." 

"  No,  it  isn't,"  Marjory  said  stoutly.  "  I  know  just 
what  you  mean.  '  Still,  all  the  world  is  not  the  same. 
I  too  have  never  met  any  one  to  whom  I  could  talk 
without  fear  of  being  misunderstood.  Still  some  there 
must  be  and  some  there  will  be.  No,  I  don't  think 
you  are  a  pessimist.  I  think,"  she  added,  with  a  smile, 
"  you  are  perhaps  a  little  impatient  with  commonplace 
people." 

While  he  had  been  talking,  Marjory,  with  the  in 
stincts  of  a  first  impression,  had  been  scrutinizing  his 
face,  striving  to  penetrate  his  reserve.  "  No,  no,"  she 
said  to  herself,  "  he  is  not  cynical,  as  he  believes ;  his 
eyes  are  too  kind.  How  strongly  I  can  feel  his  real 
nature  —  self-restrained,  but  sad  and  solitary.  I  wonder 
if  even  he  realizes  it." 

John  meanwhile  looked  down,  somewhat  suprised  at 
the  accusation. 

"I  —  I  know  something  of  your  past  life,"  began 
Marjory,  hesitatingly ;  "  and  I  can  understand.  Don't 
think  I  am  condemning  you." 

"  You  mean  the  loss  of  my  fortune  ?      Well,  that  has 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  233 

turned  out  to  have  been  my  first  real  good  luck."  He 
locked  his  arms  behind  his  back  and  began  to  walk  again. 
"  I  have  had  a  good  many  things  to  make  me  bitter, 
and  perhaps  they  have  touched  me  a  little.  But  I 
think,  anyway,  I  should  have  come  to  feel  the  same 
way  in  the  end.  It  may  be  the  age,  or  that  I  have  met 
only  one  class,  but  in  my  experience,  I  must  say,  to 
speak  the  truth,  I  am  disappointed  in  men.  I  never 
shall  understand  them.  Hero  they  are,  a  vast  horde 
thrown  into  this  world  with  a  thousand  wonderful 
questions  to  be  asked  and  answered,  so  much  to  seek 
and  find.  And  what  do  they  do  ?  They  shut  them 
selves  up  like  automata,  machines  to  eat  and  drink 
and  sleep.  They  pass  through  the  world  and  fade 
away  and  leave  no  mark  behind,  no  memory.  They 
have  no  curiosity."  He  looked  up  a  moment  out  of  the 
impetus  of  his  emotion  and  smiled  a  little.  "  I  suppose 
that  is  all  unjust  and  untrue,  and  that  by  himself  each 
man  thinks  out  his  own  problems,  and  that  the  fault 
is  only  that  he  keeps  his  thoughts  secret.  Yet  I  have 
no  patience  with  such  narrow  modesty,  such  timidity. 
When  I  meet  any  one,  Miss  Wingate,  I  want  to  sit 
down  and  say  to  him  :  '  What  are  you  thinking  about  ? 
What  are  you  ? '  I  want  to  go  to  the  bottom.  Do  you 
know,  there  is  really  nothing  so  wonderful  in  this  world, 
after  all,  as  your  own  self  ?  There  is  the  great  mystery. 
That's  what  I  want  to  talk  about  to  each  person.  I 
want  to  find  out  how  much  he  can  understand  of  himself. 
I  can  understand  so  little." 

"Ah,  yes  —  but  think.  You  ask  so  much.  What 
would  you  be  willing  to  give  in  return  ?  Not  your  real 
self,  for  I  know  from  what  you  have  said  what  that 
would  mean." 

"  I  have  never  yet  met  such  a  person,"  said   John, 


234  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

taking  up  an  ornament  meditatively  ;  "  but  when  I  do  — 
yes,  I  shall  show  him  myself." 

"Oh,  I  know  —  I  know  so  well  what  you  mean." 
Marjory  sprang  up  and  began  to  talk,  gesturing  unwit 
tingly.  "  I  should  not  question  you ;  I  feel  the  same. 
You  mean  the  world  is  so  bare,  so  —  out  at  the  elbows, 
where  it  should  be  so  rich.  What  you  say  about  our 
own  selves  being  the  greatest  of  mysteries  comes  like  a 
revelation  to  me.  You  make  me  think.  My  own  self 
has  been  hidden  so  long  that  I  can  scarcely  see  it. 
That  —  don't  you  see  ?  —  is  one  of  the  saddest  things 
in  life.  To  think  that  one's  nature  can  be  so  shut  in 
by  uncongenial  surroundings,  by  lack  of  sympathy,  that 
it  retires  and  conceals  itself  till  even  one's  own  eyes 
cannot  find  it.  You,  you  are  a  man."  She  moved  under 
the  radiant  crystal  chandelier,  her  face  flushed  with  her 
unconscious  feeling.  "  You  make  your  own  atmosphere. 
No  matter  what  sorrows  you  have  to  bear,  you  have 
freedom  to  act,  to  think,  and  to  grow.  But  a  woman, 
don't  you  see  ?  if  once  she  finds  she  is  not  understood 
at  home,  no  matter  how  well  she  is  loved,  soon  gives  up 
her  little  thoughts,  the  beginning  of  the  true  self,  and 
accommodates  herself  to  what  those  about  her  think. 
She  must ;  it  is  such  a  subtle  influence  when  it  begins 
from  childhood.  But  you  have  given  me  the  key." 
She  stopped  short.  She  had  been  carried  away  by  the 
force  of  her  emotion,  and  by  the  subtle  magnetism  of 
John's  encouraging  eyes. 

He  saw  the  blush,  and  guessed  the  cause.  He  said 
simply,  "Please  —  don't  stop,"  and  Marjory,  with  her 
hungry  soul,  and  John,  with  his  restless,  doubting  one, 
looked  into  each  other's  eyes  frankly,  as  though  they 
had  known  each  other  all  their  lives. 

"Yes,  I  know  I  can  talk  to  you,"  Marjory  began  at 


ARROWS   OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  235 

length,  but  with  a  little  questioning  shyness.  "  I  know 
friendship  must  come  by  intuition,  and  a  woman  follows 
her  intuitions,  you  know.  How  different  we  are,"  she 
continued,  reassured  by  his  quiet  look ;  "  what  I  need 
is  some  one  to  stir  me  up,  to  make  me  think.  You — 
you  have  made  mistakes  in  your  thinking.  You  see  I 
am  very  truthful  —  too  truthful,  sometimes,  I'm  afraid. 
I  tell  just  what  I  think,  and  I  think  you  must  have  had 
experiences,  when  you  were  very  young,  which  shook 
your  confidence  in  human  nature." 

"Well,  I  did.  Some  day  I  will  tell  you.  Perhaps 
you  are  right  and  I  all  wrong.  I  do  not  know."  To 
be  there  watching  the  play  of  emotions  across  the 
sweet  girlish  face  suddenly  scattered  the  shadows  of 
the  past  and  let  in  all  the  sunshine  of  life  —  the  fair 
and  the  good. 

The  clock  struck  eleven  before  he  noticed,  with  a 
guilty  start,  how  late  was  the  hour. 

"  Good  night,"  he  said,  as  they  were  in  the  hall.  "  I 
am  coming  often  to  see  you." 

"  Please  do,"  she  answered,  giving  him  her  hand. 
"  I  have  not  thanked  you  yet  for  what  you  have  done 
for  Dick  —  but  I  do  now.  He  is  the  nearest  of  all  my 
brothers." 

They  were  at  the  door  when  John  turned  suddenly, 
and  said :  "  Will  you  tell  me  one  thing  ?  I  have  seen 
you  look  at  me  often  to-night,  and  each  time  I  thought 
there  was  a  look  of  —  pity  in  your  eyes.  Why  was 
that?" 

"  I  have  seen  many  men,"  answered  Marjory,  without 
a  thought  of  her  words  (they  were  in  the  dim  circle 
of  the  hall  lamp),  "but  I  have  never  seen  one  with  so 
sad  a  face  as  yours,  one  that  seemed  so  unhappy  and 
so  solitary." 


236  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

The  moment  the  door  clicked  behind  him,  a  feeling 
of  dismay  rushed  over  her.  "  Oh,  why  did  I  say  that?" 
she  cried.  "  Oh,  why  did  I  ?  What  will  he  think  of  me  ? 
Will  he  think  me  forward  —  unwomanly?  He  can't; 
he  must  have  seen  how  kindly  I  meant  it.  Oh,  why  — 
why  did  I  say  it  ?  " 

She  ran  upstairs,  full  of  distress.  On  the  bureau  lay 
the  sheet  of  paper  on  which  she  had  written  her  proph 
ecy;  but  though  her  eyes  saw  the  scrap,  she  swept 
beyond  it  without  a  thought. 

"He  is  a  man!"  she  cried  aloud.  "He  is,  he  is! 
How  strong,  how  vital,  how  alive  he  is !  It  makes  human 
life  so  much  greater,  so  much  nobler,  to  meet  a  man  like 
that."  She  passed  to  the  window,  and  pressed  her  hot 
cheek  against  the  cool  pane,  looking  up  breathless  into 
the  now  overcast  sky,  where  only  a  star  or  two  found  a 
path  through  the  clouds. 

Suddenly  from  below  she  heard  the  front  door  open, 
and  the  voice  of  her  father  calling  her.  She  slipped  to 
the  table  and  put  out  the  light ;  for  she  felt  she  could 
not  see  any  one  just  then  —  not  even  her  father. 

She  undressed  in  the  dark,  and  slipped  into  bed,  and 
lay  silent,  her  hands  drawn  across  her  breast,  her  soul 
too  exalted  to  frame  a  prayer  in  words.  She  did  not 
ask  herself,  "  Am  I  in  love  ?  "  Deep  natures  seldom 
are  conscious  of  love  at  first  sight.  She  was  waiting, 
trembling  and  reverent,  at  the  threshold  of  the  great 
gates. 


CHAPTER  XXIV 

IN  old  age  men  too  often  see  only  the  failures  (and, 
in  the  light  of  one's  ambition,  what  life  is  not  a  failure  ?). 
In  youth  they  forgot  them.  It  is  a  difference  of  stand 
point  rather  than  a  limit  of  years  that  makes  the  divi 
sion  between  the  human  seasons.  Each  man  passes  a 
turn  of  the  road,  after  which  the  way  lies  clear  ahead, 
and  he  comes  to  realize  that  to  the  end  of  that  beaten 
path  he  must  continue.  There,  where  the  last  bend  has 
turned,  youth  has  ceased. 

Before  then,  what  is  sorrow  ?  What  is  one  disappoint 
ment  ?  One  failure,  or  two,  or  three  ?  Ahead  is  the 
boundless  future,  and  the  wheel  of  fortune  moves. 
Everything  is  possible,  for  everything  may  lie  in  a  trick 
of  the  turn.  If  age  reckons  all  the  bitter,  why  should 
youth  count  anything  but  the  sweet  ?  So,  when  men  are 
in  the  morning  of  life,  they  often  clothe  themselves  with 
their  hopes,  refusing  to  acknowledge  the  canker  sorrow 
in  the  depths  of  their  hearts. 

This  was  John  Gaunt.  He  was  young.  He  was  am 
bitious.  He  was  eager  for  success.  He  turned  his  face 
toward  the  future,  and  told  himself  the  past  was  buried, 
that  he  was  a  different  John  Gaunt,  that  certain  memo 
ries  were  forgotten.  And  so  he  had  gone  his  way, 
repeating  to  himself  that  he  was  successful  and  there 
fore  happy.  It  is  not  in  the  nature  of  man  long  to 
endure  sorrow.  If  he  cannot  rid  himself  of  the  ache  he 
must  deceive  himself,  and  deny  that  it  is  there.  Hence 

237 


238  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

the  shock,-when  a  chance  gleam  slips  through  the  barriers 
and  lights  up  his  true  self. 

John  stood  with  one  hand  on  the  gate,  immovable, 
bewildered.  Revelations  that  break  over  some  in  a 
clap  of  understanding,  to  others  unfold  gradually  —  the 
more  oppressive  for  the  lingering.  Slowly  the  mist 
rolled  back,  and  he  saw  himself,  the  shadow  and  the 
unrest. 

"  Is  it  true  ? "  he  asked,  rebelling  at  the  suggestion. 
"  Why  unhappy,  sad  ?  Yes,  something  tells  me  she  is 
right,  that  it  is  all  a  mask.  What  fools  we  are !  We 
deceive  ourselves,  and  ourselves  only.  I  thought  I  drew 
out  admiration,  and  it  is  only  pity." 

He  thrust  open  the  gate  and  started  down  the  street, 
staring  up  at  the  lighted  windows  sprinkled  on  either 
side,  with  that  peculiar  melancholy  abstraction  which, 
with  him,  preceded  periods  of  thought.  He  was  in  a 
great  city  among  a  multitude  of  his  fellow-beings.  Only 
a  wall,  six  inches  of  brick  or  stone,  stood  between  him 
and  a  sea  of  life,  of  sorrow,  of  longings,  seekings,  grop- 
ings  for  the  light.  He  felt  the  impotence  of  the  human 
and  the  immensity  of  humanity  —  the  little  hour  of  man 
and  the  immortality  of  men  that  build,  like  coral  insects, 
higher  and  higher,  eternal  in  their  death. 

When  he  would  turn  from  man,  the  sky  held  but  a 
dozen  stars,  but  each  recalled  that  night  of  his  childhood. 
All  his  early  struggles,  questionings,  and  anguish,  that 
had  lain  six  years  under  the  surface  waiting  to  cry  out 
at  a  touch,  now  started  up.  Weak  before  the  sudden 
onslaught  he  cried  out :  "  Can  I  never  escape  from  that 
past  ?  What  does  it  mean  ?  my  father's  spirit  ?  Oh, 
no,  no,  no  ! " 

When  he  reached  his  windows  the  lights  were  still 
showing.  He  stopped,  looked  up  at  the  cheery  rooms 


ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY  239 

like  a  beggar  before  a  palace,  hesitated,  then  passed  on 
down  the  street  with  long  feverish  paces.  There  was 
something  taking  place  within  him  so  sacred  that  he 
wanted  no  eye  to  look  upon  his  face  just  then. 

He  had  built  himself  a  philosophy  by  which  to  live, 
as  every  man  must  do,  whatever  he  believes,  whatever 
he  doubts.  It  was  an  unselfish  philosophy,  cold  and  cyni 
cal,  born  out  of  his  ambition.  He  had  never  really  be 
lieved  in  it,  —  a  philosophy  that  was  no  philosophy,  only 
the  mask  needed  to  wear  before  the  world.  Now,  all  at 
once,  the  words  of  a  girl  had  overturned  the  false  idols. 
He  felt  the  shock  of  the  upheaval,  and  trembled.  False 
gods  are  still  gods,  but  as  he  paced  and  wrestled  in  spirit, 
he  found  no  gods  at  all.  Everything  was  swept  away ; 
nothing  was  left  —  yes,  a  ruin  out  of  which  he  must 
fashion  something. 

It  was  a  hard,  cruel  battle  he  fought  out  that  night, 
along  the  whispering  streets,  window  after  window 
dropping  back  into  the  darkness,  a  harder  and  a  crueller 
battle  for  coming  so  late  in  life. 

Jack  was  held  fast  in  the  land  of  dreams  when  John 
awoke  the  next  morning,  sprang  up  and  dressed.  No 
traces  of  the  night's  battle  remained.  The  storm  had 
passed  overhead  and  vanished  beyond  the  horizon.  The 
night  before  his  soul  was  torn  and  laid  bare,  and  he 
stood  gasping,  trembling,  before  thoughts  which  he  had 
chosen  to  ignore  and  to  cover  up,  for  years.  Now  he 
surveyed  himself  calmly  and  impersonally,  with  the 
eye  of  a  spectator, — wondering,  as  he  adjusted  his 
cravat,  where  lay  the  mark.  He  finished  his  dressing, 
peeped  in  a  moment  on  the  laggard  Jack,  and  hurried 
down  the  stairs. 

Breakfast  over,  he  started  toward  the  wharves,  not 


240  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

with  his  accustomed  alert  step,  but  at  a  more  reflective 
gait.  A  telegram  had  come  the  preceding  day  from  the 
Lake  Company,  accepting  his  terms  and  notifying  him 
that  they  had  despatched  an  agent  to  ratify  the  trans 
action.  And  so  he  was  going  that  morning  to  set 
his  name  to  a  contract  which  would  shut  up  the  home 
of  six  years,  and  give  his  handiwork  over  to  strangers. 
Something  of  what  was  in  the  air  had  transpired  at  the 
wharves.  The  crowd,  huddled  noisily  at  the  gate,  grew 
still  as  he  passed,  and  followed  him  with  silent  question 
ing.  In  the  hall  old  Ben  the  porter  met  him  with  a 
bob  of  his  head  and  said,  — 

"Two  gentlemen  to  see  you,  Mr.  Gaunt  —  and  —  and, 
sir,  is  it  true  what  we  hear  —  about  your  leaving  ?  " 

"Yes,  Ben,  I  reckon  it  is,"  John  answered,  touched 
by  the  old  fellow's  dismayed  expression. 

Two  men  were  deep  in  whispered  conversation  as  he 
entered  :  a  short,  small,  nervous  man  with  the  eyes  of  a 
ferret,  and  a  skin  pock-marked  and  baggy ;  and  a  large, 
stolid  companion,  who  kept  up  his  part  in  the  conversa 
tion  with  deliberate  nods  and  a  steady  combing  of  his 
beard,  which  was  spreading  and  grizzled. 

"  Young  man,"  cried  the  little  fellow,  "  will  you  have 
the  goodness  to  tell  us  when  Mr.  Gaunt  is  expected  ? 
What  are  his  hours  ? " 

"  I  am  he,"  said  John.  He  knew  the  speaker  by 
sight.  "  This  is  Mr.  Kane,  I  believe  ? " 

"John  R.  Kane,  sir.  Your  pardon  for  mistaking 
you,"  exclaimed  the  spokesman,  not  a  bit  abashed. 
"Mr.  Gaunt  —  my  friend,  Judge  Shelby." 

"  Of  the  Lake  Company  ? "  John  asked,  shaking 
hands.  "  On  time,  and  ready  for  business." 

"  You  are  a  very  young  man  for  such  a  success,  Mr. 
Gaunt,"  Judge  Shelby  began,  scrutinizing  him  sharply. 


ARROWS   OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  241 

"Yes,  I  have  to  be.  One  moment,  gentlemen."  He 
turned  to  the  rack  and  put  up  his  hat  slowly,  opened 
the  window,  sorted  his  mail,  and  occupied  himself  at  the 
desk  straightening  out  his  papers.  It  was  a  method  of 
his  while  making  up  his  mind  about  a  visitor,  to  appear 
to  neglect  him  for  a  few  minutes,  while  secretly  scru 
tinizing  him  from  the  corner  of  his  eye.  Besides,  he 
knew  something  of  John  R.  Kane's  methods.  The  result 
was  according  to  his  wishes.  Kane  fidgeted  a  moment 
on  his  chair,  then  bounced  up,  exclaiming :  — 

"  Mr.  Gaunt,  let's  come  to  the  point.  We're  here  to 
talk  business.  We  want  your  place.  We'll  pay  for  it. 
But  we  can't  give  one  twenty-five.  Can't  do  it,  sir ; 
thing  won't  stand  it.  We've  been  over  it.  Come,  Mr. 
Gaunt,  give  us  a  fair  figure,  say  ninety  thousand." 

"  So  that's  the  game,"  thought  John,  and  he  glanced 
beyond  the  speaker  to  where  the  shrewd  eyes  of  the 
judge  were  studying  him.  There  are  some  people  who 
overreach  themselves  by  a  show  of  too  much  cunning, 
where  only  a  mask  of  simplicity  is  needed.  John 
walked  to  the  window  and  returned  to  the  desk,  smiling. 

"  Gentlemen,  let  me  understand  you,  then ;  you  with 
draw  your  proposition  made  through  Mr.  Blodgett  and 
accepted  by  me  ? " 

"Yes,  sir;  we  mean  just  that.  We  can't  give  the 
price.  Anything  reasonable,  now,  you'll  find  us  agree 
able  to,  and  ready  to  settle  in  cash  on  the  spot." 

"  So,  Mr.  Kane,  you  want  me  to  make  another  offer." 

"That's  business."  Kane  relapsed  into  his  seat, 
shooting  a  glance  toward  the  silent  judge.  "A  cigar, 
Mr.  Gaunt." 

"  Try  mine,  instead,"  said  John,  nonchalantly ;  for  to 
meet  a  sharper  at  his  own  game  was  his  delight.  He 
passed  the  box.  "  Mr.  Kane  ?  Judge  ? " 


24 2  ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

"  Now,  Mr.  Gaunt,  what  do  you  say  ?  Ninety  ?  Place 
ain't  worth  seventy-five.  Course  we  know  a  man's  in 
business  for  what's  in  it,  and  he  gets  what  he  can  get. 
But  of  course  there's  a  limit  now  that  can't  be  met,  and  it 
pays  not  to  put  on  a  price  that  can't  be  met.  Between 
you  and  me,  now,  Mr.  Gaunt,  as  good  business  men, 
that  bid  of  a  hundred  and  twenty-five  thousand  ain't 
right." 

"Certainly,"  said  John,  weighing  his  words,  "I've 
been  thinking  that  myself,  ever  since  I  accepted  your 
offer,  and  I  thank  you  for  leaving  me  free.  It  isn't 
right,  gentlemen.  I  must  have  a  hundred  and  thirty- 
five." 

Judge  Shelby  raised  his  head  quickly.  Kane  fairly 
bounded  from  his  seat,  then  resumed  it,  saying  with  an 
uneasy  laugh  :  — 

"  Oh,  come  now,  Mr.  Gaunt,  you  shouldn't  give  us 
such  a  scare.  That's  a  good  joke;  I  call  that  an  infer 
nally  good  joke." 

"Yes,  I  reckon  it  is,"  John  said,  and  he  turned  on 
him  with  an  innocent  smile. 

"  Mr.  Gaunt,  that's  pretty  sharp  work !  "  Kane  was 
on  his  feet  gesticulating  angrily. 

"You  ought  to  know,  Mr.  Kane,"  John  answered 
grimly.  "  Now  you  had  better  understand  me  at  once. 
I  know  what  the  property  is  worth,  and  what  it  is  worth 
to  you  —  I  know  you  have  got  to  have  it,  for  if  I'm  not 
much  mistaken,  when  you  received  my  acceptance,  your 
company  immediately  closed  its  other  contracts  on  the 
lake."  The  guess  hit  home ;  Kane's  face  showed  the 
truth.  "  Now,  sir,  if  you  had  come  to  me  in  good  faith 
this  morning  to  carry  out  your  promise,  I  should  have 
met  you  in  kind,  even  though  I  knew  the  advantage  of 
my  position.  You  chose  to  do  otherwise.  I  am  not 


243 

compelled  to  sell.  I  am  making  an  excellent  income. 
Whatever  extension  of  lake  traffic  your  company  effects, 
I  profit  by  it.  Come  to  Cleveland  you  must,  and  use 
my  property  you  must,  whether  you  buy  it  or  pay  me 
for  the  use  of  it,  and  now,  frankly,  you  have  made  a 
great  mistake  in  employing  such  methods  with  me.  I 
will  sell  you  this  property  for  one  hundred  and  thirty-five 
thousand  in  spot  cash,  the  offer  to  hold  until  ten,  for 
every  hour  after  which,"  he  drew  back  and  looked 
Kane  in  the  face,  "  I  add  a  thousand  to  the  sum." 

"Mr.  Gaunt?" 

John  turned.  It  was  Judge  Shelby  who  had  broken 
silence,  and  now  rose  and  advanced  in  front  of  Kane. 

"  Mr.  Gaunt,  you  are  right.  Mr.  Kane  does  not 
represent  the  company.  He  is  here  simply  as  my 
friend.  There  never  has  been  any  question.  Of 
course  we  stand  by  the  contract.  We  will  settle  at 
once  at  a  hundred  and  twenty-five  thousand." 

"  I  am  very  sorry  for  the  company,  sir,  and  very 
grateful  to  Mr.  Kane.  That  offer  no  longer  stands.  I 
hope  you  won't  tempt  me,  Judge,  by  any  further  delay, 
for  you  don't  know  how  hard  it  is  to  refrain  from  put 
ting  up  the  price  again,  now  that  I  see  how  badly  you 
want  the  place." 

The  judge  stopped  short  and  looked  at  him  from 
under  his  bushy  eyebrows. 

"  Do  you  mean  that  ?  " 

John  glanced  at  the  clock. 

"  Very  well,  we  accept." 

"  At  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  thousand  ? " 

"  Yes." 

"  Cash  ? " 

The  other  drew  out  his  pocket-book,  "  Only  waiting 
the  drawing-up  of  the  contract." 


244  ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

"That  is  all  prepared,"  John  said,  drawing  out  a 
paper  as  they  sat  down. 

So  it  happened  that  a  week  after  this  conversation 
John,  having  regulated  all  his  affairs,  surrendered  the 
keys  of  the  establishment  to  Judge  Shelby  and  wished 
him  luck.  He  shook  hands  with  Kane  and  joked  over 
the  encounter,  little  realizing  under  what  circumstances 
they  were  soon  to  meet  again. 

After  a  long  handshaking  among  the  men,  he  tramped 
out  of  the  yard  at  last,  and  wandered  off  up  the  street 
to  the  rooms.  Jack  was  out,  but  the  two  dogs  came 
bounding  up  against  him.  He  put  them  away  and  sat 
down  on  the  sofa. 

"  Well,  that's  over,"  ran  his  ruminations ;  "  I  am  now  a 
man  of  leisure  for  a  while.  But  I  confess  I  don't  feel 
very  happy.  An  American  man's  business  is  pretty  near 
his  home  —  and,  well,  I  feel  as  though  I  had  been  turned 
out  of  mine." 

He  put  his  feet  up  and  leaned  back  luxuriously. 
"  Now  what  the  deuce  is  a  man  to  do  when  he's  through 
business?  Hello,  I'll  take  a  holiday  —  never  thought 
of  that.  I'll  get  a  horse  and  try  a  gallop;  haven't  done 
that  since  I  came." 

He  slipped  into  his  riding  clothes,  after  whipping  out 
the  dust  of  years,  and  went  downstairs.  At  the  bottom 
he  stopped,  moved  a  step,  and  stopped  again.  Then  a 
smile  of  pleasure  came  to  his  face,  and  he  said,  "  Why 
not  ?  I  should  like  to  talk  to  her  again.  How  different 
she  is  from  all  other  women  !  Somehow  she  brings  out 
all  the  good  in  life  to  me.  I  like  her  ;  yes,  I  like  her." 

He  glanced  at  himself  twice,  and  then  returned  up 
stairs  for  repairs,  an  act  that  would  have  caused  Jack 
to  turn  somersaults  of  astonishment,  had  he  been  pre 
sent  to  witness  it. 


CHAPTER  XXV 

MARJORY  was  in  the  garden,  gathering  flowers  for  the 
house,  Shadow  and  Frolic  frisking  in  circles  about  her, 
when  a  clatter  of  hoofs  came  from  the  driveway,  and 
she  saw  John's  stalwart  form  riding  up.  Her  arms 
were  still  filled  with  white  asters,  as  she  went  slowly  to 
welcome  him,  the  dogs  skirmishing  curiously  in  front. 

At  her  approach  John  flung  himself  off  and  threw  the 
bridle  over  his  arm,  standing  erect  beside  the  pawing 
horse,  with  bare  head  and  keen,  insistent  eyes.  He 
held  out  his  hand  and  her  slim  one  went  into  it  and  lay 
there  a  moment. 

In  such  matters  it  is  the  second  encounter  that  tells. 
Then  are  gauged  the  impressions  of  the  first  meeting. 
Under  all  the  will  and  the  melancholy,  she  saw  now 
the  humor  and  the  kindliness,  and  was  satisfied.  He 
had  wondered  if  she  would  show  as  fair  under  the  light 
of  the  sun.  He  found  her  a  child  of  the  day,  who  caught 
the  sparkle  of  the  sun  and  the  freshness  of  the  wind. 
Each  emotion  and  thought  swept  her  whole  face  with  a 
new  expression.  Her  beauty  was  full  of  sudden  sur 
prises,  taking  its  glow  from  the  fountain  of  all  true 
charm,  an  innocent  and  happy  soul. 

What  she  wore  John  did  not  quite  apprehend,  ex 
cept  that  it  was  something  soft  and  green  that  went 
well  with  the  white  asters  against  her  throat.  With 
that  boldness  tempered  with  a  smile  that  appeals  so  to 
women  —  the  command  that  confesses  the  desire  —  he 
said :  — 

245 


246  ARROWS   OF   THE   ALMIGHTY 

"My  first  holiday,  Miss  Wingate.  I  have  come  to 
carry  you  off  for  a  scamper  over  the  country,  in  old 
Maryland  style  —  if  you  will  let  me." 

"  A  scamper  in  the  country  —  splendid !  "  she  ex 
claimed,  with  a  laugh  full  of  anticipation,  as  Peter  came 
up  and  took  the  bridle.  "  Come  into  the  house.  I  was 
going  to  scold  you  for  being  so  long  in  calling,  but  I 
forgive  you  now.  I  have  been  longing  so  for  a  ride. 
Wait  in  the  library.  I  promise  to  do  my  best." 

"  In  the  library ;  all  right." 

But  somehow  John  lingered  just  long  enough  to  watch 
the  sweep  of  light  green  disappear  above  the  stairs, 
before  he  could  make  up  his  mind  not  to  place  his  hat 
upon  the  rack,  and  went  into  the  library  with  its  high 
gothic  shelves. 

Shadow  followed,  begging  for  attention,  but  John  did 
not  notice  him.  "  What  a  fresh,  wholesome  color  she 
has,"  he  thought,  pacing  the  floor,  "and  how  graceful 
she  is !  What  is  it  gives  her  so  much  charm  ?  I  think 
it  must  be  her  smile,"  and  with  an  elbow  on  the  mantel 
piece,  he  fell  into  a  revery. 

Often  afterward,  in  the  press  of  later  times,  amid  the 
cares,  trials,  responsibilities,  and  honors  that  crowded 
upon  him,  he  looked  back  to  that  quiet  afternoon  in  the 
library  of  the  Wingates,  with  its  distant  ceiling  and  its 
windows  opening  to  the  scent  of  the  garden  —  to  a 
young  man  walking  back  and  forth,  with  meditative 
head,  who  stopped  every  now  and  then  at  the  door  to 
listen  for  footsteps  on  the  stairs  —  a  day  without  a 
night,  a  garden  forever  green. 

Down  the  stairs  at  last  came  Marjory,  in  habit  of 
blue  and  sweeping  hat  of  black,  skirt  over  one  arm, 
whip  in  hand.  She  stood  a  moment,  shyly,  at  the 
bottom,  waiting,  aware  of  his  curiosity  as  he  turned 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  247 

to  her.  The  soil  of  the  wharves,  the  cunning  and  the 
struggle  of  men,  the  stains  and  the  rough  contact  of 
the  world,  the  easy,  careless  standards,  the  tolerance 
of  the  ugly,  were  yet  drumming  in  his  ears  while  he 
looked  and  looked  at  Marjory,  — the  girl,  innocent  and 
ignorant  of  all  unloveliness. 

"  Will  you  come  ?  " 

He  started  quickly  at  her  voice ;  he  had  been  uncon 
scious  of  her  waiting.  He  stepped  forward  and  opened 
the  door,  already  with  a  pride  in  being  at  her  side. 
Something  of  the  old  boyish  spirit,  the  joy,  the  zest,  the 
humor  of  life  returned.  He  turned  to  her  with  a  defiant, 
laughing  glance,  and  said,  with  a  resolute  shake  of  his 
head  :  "  Miss  Wingate,  I  shall  sit  my  horse  very  straight 
this  afternoon.  There,  I  believe  I  have  actually  made 
a  compliment.  Heavens !  what  would  Jack  say  ?  " 

Marjory  turned  her  head  away ;  she  was  already  on 
the  stoop,  beckoning  Peter  with  the  horses.  Yet,  by 
the  flush  of  her  cheek,  despite  all  previous  declarations 
against  such  forms  of  flattery,  she  did  not  seem  much 
to  regret  this  very  plain  evidence  of  backsliding  on  the 
part  of  John.  Every  woman,  of  course,  disdains  a  com 
pliment —  unless,  coming  from  the  right  quarter,  she  is 
positive  of  its  sincerity. 

The  horses  arriving,  John  stooped,  took  a  little  foot 
in  his  great  hand  (with  just  a  trifle  of  selfish  curiosity), 
and  had  his  companion  up  in  her  saddle  in  a  trice. 
They  rode  off,  leaving  Peter  behind,  staring  and  grin 
ning  and  scratching  his  head. 

At  the  very  first  corner,  who  should  appear,  coming 
up  the  avenue,  but  Jack.  He  took  off  his  hat  and  made 
them  a  very  gallant  bow ;  then,  discomfited,  unmindful 
of  a  knot  of  jeering  urchins,  he  stood  blankly  watching 
them  out  of  sight.  The  fact  is,  neither  saw  him.  They 


248  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

were  looking  at  each  other,  talking  as  freely  and  frankly 
as  though  they  had  known  each  other  all  their  lives. 

Twice,  as  John  reined  in  his  horse,  to  fall  a  little 
behind,  Marjory  had  hastily  checked  her  own.  The 
strange,  sudden  shyness  that  only  comes  to  a  woman 
when  in  the  presence  of  one  man  out  of  all  the  world, 
was  upon  her  that  afternoon  —  a  vague  timidity,  a  sense 
of  being  scrutinized. 

All  at  once  they  were  off  racing  over  long  stretches 
of  flat  highway,  until  Marjory,  with  flaming  cheeks, 
cried  a  halt.  Then  they  turned  by  unfamiliar  ways 
through  fields  and  under  trees,  to  halt  at  last  while 
their  mounts  buried  their  noses  in  a  little  brook. 

"  So  this  is  your  first  long  holiday  ?"  she  asked,  pat 
ting  the  glossy  neck. 

"  Yes,  and  I  feel  sort  of  turned  out  of  house  and 
home,"  said  John,  pulling  at  a  low,  fallen  branch. 
"  You  see,  all  these  years  I  have  hardly  had  a  thought 
outside  of  my  business ;  it  was  all  of  life  to  me.  Now 
that  it  is  suddenly  wrenched  away,  why,  I  feel  like  a 
fish  out  of  water." 

"  What  a  worker !     I  believe  you." 

"  I'm  afraid  I  have  one  bad  habit.  If  I  take  a  thing 
up,  no  matter  what  it  is,  I  can  think  of  nothing  else. 
It  absorbs  me.  I  throw  myself  into  it  heart  and  soul,  and 
I'm  afraid  nothing  else  exists  much  until  it  is  finished. 
I  shall  have  to  confess  that  I'm  a  man  of  one  idea." 

"Very  true,"  she  responded,  with  a  positive  shake  of 
the  head  ;  "  and  that  one  idea  is  —  " 

"  Is  what  ? " 

"To  underrate  yourself."  Marjory  glanced  back  at 
him  mischievously.  "  There,  sir,  that  is  my  candid 
opinion.  Now  to  ride  fast ;  we  have  a  good  way  to  go, 
and  the  dusk  will  soon  overtake  us." 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  249 

"Pretty  soon,  but  not  just  yet,"  said  John,  reaching 
out  and  laying  his  hand  on  her  reins  as  she  was  about 
to  urge  the  horse  forward.  "  We  have  had  our  gallop, 
let  us  talk  a  little  while  —  will  you  ?  " 

She  turned  to  his  earnest  face,  hesitated  a  moment, 
and  then  nodded  assent. 

"  I  am  a  terrible  one  to  take  the  bull  by  the  horns, 
Miss  Wingate;  you  will  see."  He  had  settled  back 
into  the  saddle  and  was  proceeding  a  little  uncertainly. 
"You  remember  that  night  as  I  was  leaving — what 
you  said  to  me  ? " 

Did  she  remember  ?  She  had  thought  of  nothing 
else  all  the  ride.  She  put  her  head  down,  and  her 
cheeks  were  struck  with  confusion. 

"  I  should  not  have  said  it.  I  was  sorry  afterward. 
I  hoped  you  had  forgotten  such  a  foolish  speech." 

"  Forgotten  ?  and  why  ?  You  are  the  first  person  in 
the  world  who  has  talked  to  me  as  I  want.  You  are  not 
going  to  regret  that,  are  you  ? "  he  said  gently.  She 
felt  his  quiet  strength.  The  same  feeling  that  had 
impelled  her  at  their  first  meeting  to  speak  without 
consciousness  or  constraint,  returned  to  her,  and  she 
said :  "  I  was  only  afraid  I  had  hurt  you.  That  was  all 
I  regretted." 

"  No,  I  have  only  to  thank  you.  I  should  like  to  ask 
a  promise  of  you :  that  you  always  will  tell  me  just  what 
you  see  in  me.  I  reckon,  though,  I  shouldn't  ask  it." 

"  It  is  a  promise." 

They  rode  on  silently  awhile,  until  Marjory  said 
abruptly :  "  You  told  me  you  would  tell  me  something 
of  yourself.  Don't  you  want  to  do  that  now.  That  is, 
I  mean,  just  what  you  would  tell  any  one.  You  under 
stand,  don't  you  ? " 

"  Yes,  I  wanted  to  tell  you."    He  drew  himself  straight 


250  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

up  in  the  saddle,  looking  ahead  steadily.  When  he  began 
to  speak  it  was  simply  and  quietly  as  though  it  were 
a  matter  of  course.  But  at  times,  when  in  his  earnest 
ness  his  voice  sank  almost  to  a  whisper,  she  saw,  under 
all,  how  vital  was  the  memory. 

"  You  see,  Miss  Wingate,  when  you  told  me  so  frankly 
how  I  impressed  you,  it  came  as  a  shock.  I  don't 
believe  I  ever  quite  realized  what  I  was  before.  I  hid 
things,  ignored  them  ;  that  is,  I  tried  to.  Perhaps  that  is 
why  I  deceived  myself.  So  you  see  that  night  after  I 
left  you,  why,  it  came  like  a  clap  of  thunder  to  me.  I 
don't  deny  it  was  a  hard  moment.  I  am  not  going  to 
believe  that  I  am  the  only  one  who  passes  through  such 
a  revelation.  I  think  there  comes  just  such  a  time  to 
every  man  —  well,  perhaps  not  every  one — no,  I  hope 
not ;  but  to  those  who  are  like  me.  Usually  it  comes 
earlier,  and  it  is  easier  to  root  out  the  old  delusions  and 
find  new  ideals  to  cling  to.  You  understand  me?  A 
time  when  you  see  your  true  self,  when  you  know  it, 
and  can  no  longer  live  with  anything  that  is  not  just  as 
true." 

"Oh,  yes,"  Marjory  cried,  bending  her  head,  "oh, 
yes,  I  do  know.  In  a  measure,  it  does  come  to  all,  I'm 
sure;  and  some  submit  —  many." 

"  I  am  going  to  tell  you  all,  Miss  Wingate.  Don't 
imagine  it  is  because  I  ask  your  pity ;  that  is  not  my 
nature.  It  is  —  well,  because  I  want  you  to  know  me 
just  as  I  am."  He  waited  a  moment,  bending  his  brows 
and  striving  to  recall.  "  My  father  was  always  having 
gambling  parties  in  the  big  hall,  and  I  used  to  wander 
around  the  table  watching  the  play.  I  don't  know 
that  that  is  very  relevant,  but  I  remember,  as  though 
it  were  yesterday,  looking  down  from  the  balcony  one 
night  as  I  went  to  bed,  and  seeing  them  at  the  cards. 


I  was  just  leaving  my  childhood,  a  wild,  impulsive  little 
fellow,  full  of  imagination,  with  my  mother's  love  of 
nature.  When  I  went  up  to  my  room,  I  stood  out  on 
the  balcony  and  began  to  look  up  at  the  stars.  They 
had  never  been  real  to  me  before ;  that  night  they  were. 
I  was  carried  right  off  my  feet.  In  all  my  life,  I  think 
I  never  have  been  quite  so  happy  as  then  —  those  few 
short  hours.  I  wish  I  could  have  gone  on  as  I  began, 
but  who  knows  ?  something  else  probably  would  have 
happened.  I  stole  outdoors  and  roamed  about  the 
fields,  and  it  was  then,  as  I  came  up  the  stairs,  that  I 
overheard  my  father  in  his  room.  I  listened.  My 
father  was  —  a  —  " 

"  Never  mind,"  Marjory  said  softly,  "  don't  tell  me  too 
much;  I  shall  understand." 

"  I  trust  you.     I  want  you  to  hear." 

He  had  been  speaking  quietly.  Now  he  went  on  with 
sudden  rapidity. 

"  My  father  was  a  slave  to  a  drug.  I  have  learned  to 
pity  him  since.  He  had  a  horror,  a  loathing  of  death 
that  never  left  him,  and  in  his  spells  it  would  break  out 
with  fearful  intensity ;  his  cries  were  too  horrible  for 
words.  And  that  is  what  I  overheard.  Poor  little  beg 
gar,  I  had  a  pretty  hard  time  of  it,  for  I  hid  it  from  my 
mother,  that  it  might  not  break  her  heart.  She  died 
soon  after,  without  knowing  that  I  knew.  And  in  this 
shadow  I  grew  up,  without  any  one  to  help  me.  The 
world  was  all  black  those  days.  Lord,  I  sometimes 
wonder  if  I  can  ever  forget  that  loathing  that  was  over 
all  my  youth. 

"  My  father  didn't  die  until  I  was  nineteen,  and  then 
— well,  I  fancied  myself  in  love  with  an  older  woman  who 
was  only  amusing  herself.  You  see  I  am  telling  you  all ; 
if  I  really  had  been  in  love,  perhaps  I  shouldn't." 


252  ARROWS  OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

"Thank  you,"  said  Marjory,  but  in  a  voice  so  low 
that  he  did  not  guess  the  meaning. 

"  On  top  of  all  this,  my  father's  friend,  my  guardian, 
the  one  man  I  had  trusted  implicitly,  absconded  with  all 
my  inheritance,  leaving  me  a  beggar.  So  you  see  how 
everything  in  my  early  life  was  of  a  kind  to  make  me 
doubt.  I  cannot  help  what  I  ajn,  or  if  people  think  me 
cynical  and  bitter.  That  is  all ;  that  is  everything." 

He  ended  inaudibly.  The  yellow  dusk  was  closing 
fast  over  the  fields,  everything  about  them  was  melting 
into  the  evening.  The  road  ran  white  and  clear  for  yet 
a  way  ahead ;  only  they  two  and  the  moving  horses 
beneath  were  real,  saved  out  of  the  deluge  of  shadow 
and  mist.  At  some  object  in  the  road  Marjory's  horse 
shied,  rubbing  against  his  companion.  She  put  her 
hand  gently  on  his  arm  and  looked  at  him,  her  eyes 
filled  with  tears,  as  they  were  wont  to  do  at  the  recital  of 
a  sorrow. 

"Tell  me,  that  shadow  —  it  is  still  in  your  mind  to 
day,  is  it  not  ?  " 

"Yes." 

"  Back  of  everything  ? " 

"  Yes." 

The  horses  parted  again.  He  had  not  noticed  that 
her  hand  had  rested  on  his  sleeve ;  she  also  was  uncon 
scious  of  it. 

On  and  on  they  went  in  the  silence  and  dusk. 

"  Why  did  you  tell  me  so  much  ?  I  know  it  hurt  you." 

"  Because  I  want  you  for  my  friend.  I  want  you  to 
understand  why  I  am  as  I  am." 

They  were  close  together  now.  She  put  out  her 
hand  without  a  word.  He  took  it  with  a  low  "  Thank 
you,"  bent  over  it,  just  touched  with  his  lips  the  ends  of 
her  glove,  and  rose  again  in  the  saddle. 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  253 

"  It  is  getting  fearfully  dark,"  Marjory  cried,  with  a 
happy  laugh  ;  "but  I  don't  care,  I  am  so  safe  with  you." 

"  Now  for  a  race  home  !  " 

She  nodded,  and  away  they  flew.  He  hardly  knew 
himself,  he  was  so  full  of  spirits  and  the  joy  of  life. 

All  too  soon  they  were  at  the  steps.  Peter  ran  up,  the 
door  swung  open,  and  her  father  came  out  to  welcome 
him.  She  was  down  under  the  glare  of  the  lamp,  giv 
ing  him  her  hand,  and  vanished  behind  the  door,  all  in 
a  score  of  seconds. 

At  last  into  his  restless,  searching  soul  there  had 
come  a  sense  of  quiet  and  a  sense  of  peace.  After  all 
life  might  hold  something  in  store  for  him  —  a  repose, 
perhaps  a  home.  He  left  the  horse  at  the  stables  and 
swung  through  the  dark  streets  to  the  skurry  of  the  city's 
pulse.  There,  amid  the  glare  of  the  shop  windows,  were 
the  bulletins  of  the  Herald:  — 

WILL   SOUTH  CAROLINA    SECEDE? 

THE    HORIZON   STORMY. 

He  mingled  in  the  curious  crowd.  Some  were  shak 
ing  their  heads  incredulously ;  a  knot  of  young  fellows 
beside  him  were  laughing. 


CHAPTER   XXVI 

IN  the  early  days  of  January,  1861,  John,  coming  into 
his  rooms  at  dusk,  with  cheeks  aglow  from  a  long  ride 
into  the  frozen  country,  found  Jack  pulling  on  his  pipe, 
turning  his  palms  to  the  roaring  grate. 

"  Bad  news  at  the  office,  John,  worse  and  worse,"  cried 
Jack,  at  his  friend's  frosty  entrance. 

"  What !  more,  Jack  ? " 

"  Mississippi  passed  an  ordinance  of  secession  yester 
day." 

"  Mississippi  ? " 

"  And  the  governor  says  Florida  is  expected  to  do  so 
to-day.  There  are  all  sorts  of  other  rumors  in  the  office. 
It's  a  bad  day  for  the  country,  John." 

"  Mississippi  and  Florida,"  repeated  John,  staring 
into  the  fire.  He  stood  silent,  without  thinking  to  draw 
off  his  coat.  "What  do  they  say  about  Maryland ?" 

Jack  glanced  up  quickly. 

"  What  did  you  say,  Jack  ?  " 

"I  —  I  said  nothing." 

John  looked  down  curiously. 

"  Jack,  what  are  you  thinking  ?  " 

"I  —  why,  I  don't  know  —  nothing." 

"  You  are  wondering  what  effect  the  secession  of 
Maryland  would  have  on  me,  aren't  you  ? " 

Jack  paused.  "  How  did  you  know  ?  You  are  Mary 
land  bred." 

"  So  I  am."  And  without  further  answer,  John  turned 
on  his  heel  and  began  to  throw  off  his  coat. 

254 


ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY  255 

Since  the  7th  of  November  and  the  bonfires  of 
Lincoln's  election,  rumor  had  followed  rumor.  On  the 
2Oth  of  December  came  the  shock  of  South  Carolina's 
secession,  and  the  day  after  Christmas  the  news  of  the 
evacuation  of  Fort  Moultrie.  Dismay  was  in  every  eye, 
uncertainty  in  every  mind.  The  streets  were  spotted 
with  anxious  groups  scanning  the  newest  bulletin  or 
weighing  the  latest  rumor.  The  political  sky,  instead 
of  clearing,  became  charged  with  ominous  clouds  from 
every  quarter.  Men  still  insisted  that  no  crisis  would 
come,  that  the  alarms  were  hollow,  that  the  threats  of 
disunion  were  made  for  political  advantage;  but  this 
confidence  soon  receded  before  report  after  report  of 
speeches  in  the  South,  of  the  resignation  of  South 
Carolina's  representatives  in  the  Federal  government, 
of  treason  in  the  cabinet,  of  timidity  and  indecision  in 
the  Chief  Magistrate's  chair. 

"  Maryland  will  stay  in  the  Union,"  said  John,  de 
cisively,  lighting  a  cigar. 

Jack,  by  the  fire,  putting  Rags  through  his  tricks, 
started  up. 

"  It  must,"  continued  John.  He  came  forward  and 
stood  absorbed,  looking  down  at  the  begging  cur. 
"Jack,  what  will  you  do  in  case  —  " 

"  In  case  of  war  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  I  enlisted  to-day  in  the  Light  Guards." 

"There  will  be  no  war." 

"Think  not?" 

"  You  think  there  will  be  ?  " 

"  I  do." 

They  were  silent  for  some  time,  each  drawing  back 
in  his  chair,  rolling  out  volumes  of  smoke. 

"Jack." 


256  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

"  Ay,  ay,  sir." 

"  You  misunderstand  me ;  I  am  for  the  Union,  first, 
last,  and  always,  and  if  blood  must  be  spilt  —  which  I 
don't  believe  —  you'll  find  me  by  your  side,  marching 
with  the  Light  Guards." 

"  Good  Lord,  John  !  "  The  little  fellow  dropped  his 
head  on  his  hands.  "  Why  didn't  you  speak  before  ? " 

"Jack,  do  you  mean  if  it  had  been  the  other 
way  —  " 

"  Don't  ask  me,  John." 

"  I  never  realized  you  could  make  any  mistake,"  said 
John,  glancing  with  amazement  at  the  emotion  on  his 
friend's  face.  "  I  have  never  had  any  doubt  from  the 
first." 

"Then  why  in— " 

"  Maryland,"  John  cut  in,  abruptly.  "  It's  the  horror 
of  it,  Jack.  It  is  home,  after  all ;  there's  no  getting 
away  from  that  feeling.  Pray  God,  Jack,  Maryland 
stands  firm." 

"  Amen  to  that." 

Another  silence. 

"John." 

"Well?" 

"  You  won't  undertake  any  business  till  this  is  cleared 
up?" 

"  You  mean  the  railroad  deal  ?  I  don't  know  what 
to  do  about  that.  You  see,  Jack,  we  heard  all  this  four 
years  ago." 

"  Fre'mont  wasn't  elected." 

"  Then  there  was  General  Jackson's  affair." 

"  Well,  I  don't  know  ;  I  don't  trust  my  own  opinions," 
Jack  cried,  taking  down  a  sabre  gloomily.  "  Jack  is  too 
modest,  mark  you.  But,  Jdhn,  there  are  some  pretty 
cool  heads  down  at  the  Herald  office.  Don't  risk  any 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  257 

venture  until  you  know  just  what  is  going  to  happen, 
says  your  most  humble,  obliged,  and  obedient  servant, 
Jack  Hazard,"  and  the  little  fellow,  who  never  long 
could  keep  a  serious  face,  made  him  a  valiant  salute  with 
the  sabre. 

Senator  Wingate  and  Blodgett,  when  appealed  to  for 
their  opinions,  took  the  same  view,  and  at  the  end  of  a 
long  evening's  conference  it  was  decided  to  remain  pas 
sive  until  a  crisis  should  arrive,  and  it  could  be  seen  how 
far  South  Carolina  and  her  sympathizers  would  carry  the 
menace  of  secession. 

So,  for  a  time,  John  was  forced  to  content  himself 
with  a  life  of  inactivity  and  ease.  Leisure  sat  heavy 
on  his  shoulders.  Without  a  daily  purpose  he  was  com 
pletely  adrift.  He  resorted  to  long  walks  in  the  morn 
ing,  and  to  scouring  the  country  on  horseback  in  the 
afternoon,  or,  if  the  weather  were  hostile,  he  installed 
himself  by  the  fire,  surrounded  himself  with  books,  and 
dipped  into  former  favorites.  In  the  evenings  he  grew 
to  be  a  pretty  constant  visitor  at  the  Wingates',  where 
the  senator  would  discuss  with  him  the  stormy  times 
and  the  outcome  that  now  looked  so  ominous.  Marjory 
was  usually  the  third  in  these  little  parties  in  the 
library,  —  the  father,  deep  in  the  high-backed,  cushioned 
chair,  with  one  hand  resting  on  the  shoulder  of  his 
daughter,  who,  camped  at  his  knee,  followed  eagerly 
the  guest,  as  he  measured  the  carpet  with  his  long 
strides,  and  in  the  earnestness  of  his  argument  slashed 
the  air  with  his  cigar. 

"  You  must  not  forget,  Mr.  Gaunt,"  the  senator  began 
in  tne  of  these  talks,  with  an  assurance  belied  by  his 
thoughtful  forehead,  "that  much,  if  not  all,  of  this 
talk  of  secession  and  rebellion  is  to  be  discounted.  It 
is  party  material  conveniently  fanned  into  flame  every 


258  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

four  years.  These  threats  are  twenty  years  old,  and  yet 
somehow  the  country  still  sticks  together." 

"  New  conditions,  Senator ;  a  Republican  goes  into 
office  for  the  first  time." 

"  True ;  I  admit  that  conditions  are  different.  But  I 
cannot  believe  that  when  the  test  comes  such  threats 
will  ever  be  carried  into  execution." 

"  I  wish  I  could  think  so,"  said  John ;  "  but  events 
have  forced  me  to  see  the  truth.  Only  to-night  came 
the  report  of  Louisiana's  secession.  I  saw  it  as  I 
passed  the  Herald  office.  Six  states  have  now  passed 
the  ordinance.  It  is  rumored  that  they  intend  to  form 
a  separate  government." 

"  What,  Louisiana  too  ? " 

The  senator  and  Marjory  looked  up  in  amazement. 

"  Mr.  Gaunt,  that  is  terrible  news  —  terrible  !  " 

"  It  is,  and  yet  I  think  it  is  inevitable,"  said  John, 
grimly.  "  I  believe  the  question  of  the  right  of  a  state 
to  withdraw  from  the  nation  is  a  question  so  vital  that 
it  will  have  to  be  settled  by  force,  and  by  force  alone, 
to  be  settled  finally." 

"  The  '  irrepressible  conflict,'  you  believe  ?  " 

"  Yes,  that  is  it."  John  halted  before  the  fireplace  and 
threw  his  cigar  into  the  grate.  He  had  been  speaking 
to  the  senator,  but  his  eyes  had  been  constantly  on  the 
slender  figure  at  the  foot  of  the  high-backed  chair. 
"  And  yet  I  may  be  taking  a  very  gloomy  outlook. 
Should  secession  be  carried  out,  perhaps  the  insurrection 
would  disappear  before  the  first  show  of  force.  There 
is  the  precedent  of  General  Jackson,  Senator." 

"We  have  not  our  Jackson!"  exclaimed  the  other, 
rising.  "  We  have  a  very  timid,  and  therefore  a  very 
dangerous,  man.  No,  sir ;  if  there  is  trouble  coming,  it 
means  not  a  riot,  not  an  insurrection,  but  war,  civil  war, 


ARROWS   OF   THE   ALMIGHTY  259 

the  South  against  the  North.  You  know  the  Southern 
people  —  they  are  brave,  desperately  brave — "  He 
stopped  suddenly  and  looked  at  John.  "  But  you  are 
a  Southerner  ? " 

"  I  am  a  Marylander,  but  my  father's  people  were 
from  Delaware." 

"  I  am  an  old  man,  and  I  dread  to  see  a  conflict  pro 
voked.  We  are  too  young  a  nation,  I  fear,  too  closely 
knit  together,  to  bear  such  a  test.  In  such  a  crisis  any 
compromise  seems  better  than  an  appeal  to  arms.  I 
am  asfounded  at  the  growth  of  this  movement.  What 
state  next !  Marjory,  I  think  I  will  go  out  and  talk  this 
over  at  headquarters.  You  will  excuse  me,  Mr.  Gaunt. 
I  will  turn  you  over  to  the  hands  of  my  daughter." 

He  said  good  night  and  left  them.  Out  with  him  went 
all  the  threats  of  war,  the  gloom,  the  worry,  and  the 
rumor  of  those  waiting  days,  and  John  was  alone,  sitting 
by  her  side,  listening  to  her  voice  in  the  still  library  with 
its  high  oak  shelves  running  to  the  ceiling.  It  was  a 
spot  removed  from  all  the  rout  of  the  outer  world,  con 
secrated  to  her  alone.  When  he  entered  her  presence, 
it  was  like  stepping  out  of  shadow  into  a  sudden  burst 
of  sunshine.  When  he  left,  up  sprang  the  discordant 
world,  at  the  click  of  the  lock. 

Mrs.  Wingate,  who  had  contracted  a  violent  dislike  to 
one  who  was  confessedly  not  a  church-goer,  beheld  with 
alarm  the  frequency  of  John's  visits. 

"  Mr.  Wingate  —  Bushrod,"  she  began  one  night,  dur 
ing  the  confidential  hours,  "  you  may  not  perceive  what 
is  taking  place  right  under  your  nose.  I  do.  Is  it  your 
desire  that  our  daughter  should  marry  an  unbeliever  ? " 

"  Unbeliever  ?  Eh,  what's  that?"  cried  the  husband, 
startled  out  of  his  drowsiness. 


26o  ARROWS  OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

"  Nonsense !  Do  you  mean  to  tell  me  that  you  don't 
understand  that  young  man's  intentions  here  ?  " 

"  Maria,  whom  do  you  mean  ? " 

"  Mr.  Gaunt,  of  course !  " 

"  Nonsense,  Maria !  Come  now,  go  to  sleep,"  the 
senator  mumbled,  turning  over.  "  You  have  married 
the  girl  off  a  dozen  times.  If  a  man  looks  at  her, 
you  are  sure  he  is  in  love  with  her.  Let  her  be.  She 
must  have  friendships.  I  know  her  mind;  she  isn't 
even  giving  a  thought  to  such  matters.  Besides, 
Mr.  Gaunt  comes  as  my  friend,  to  talk  business  and 
politics." 

"  Therefore  he  stays  two  hours  after  you  leave,  and  is 
forever  taking  your  daughter  out  riding." 

"  Well,  and  if  he  does  ?  Let  them  enjoy  each  other's 
friendship.  Now,  good  night." 

"  Friendship  ! "  persisted  the  lady,  with  the  rising  inflec 
tion.  "  Bushrod,  I  say  no  more.  I  no  longer  expect  to 
be  listened  to  with  respect.  I  am  through  with  warn 
ings.  I  only  tell  you  now,  that  you  may  remember  it  in 
your  sorrow,  and  not  say  that  I  was  blind,  or  that  I 
shirked  my  duty  as  a  mother  and  a — " 

"  There,  there,  Maria  !  No  one  ever  accused  you  of 
that." 

"  As  a  mother  and  a  Christian  ! "  exclaimed  Mrs. 
Wingate,  refusing  to  be  mollified.  "  Mr.  Wingate,  you 
are  nourishing  a  viper  in  your  bosom." 

"All  right,  then,  Maria,"  the  senator  said,  settling 
his  pillow.  '  Now,  do  go  to  sleep." 

"  Sleep ! "  cried  Mrs.  Wingate,  thus  abruptly  shut 
off;  but  in  time  even  her  conscience  succumbed  before 
the  demands  of  the  mortal  nature.  Thenceforth  her 
manner  toward  John  never  failed  to  be  distant  and 
chill. 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  261 

February  now  arrived,  with  its  news  of  the  organiza 
tion  of  the  Confederate  government  at  Montgomery,  and 
the  disaffection  Of  Texas.  Still  Blodgett,  and  in  a  lesser 
degree  Senator  Wingate,  deprecated  all  notion  of  a  con 
flict.  The  feeling  was  still  strong  throughout  the  North 
that  no  overt  act  would  be  committed,  and  that  the  use 
of  a  little  diplomacy  would  soon  restore  the  good  under 
standing  between  the  sections. 

But  when  the  matter  of  investments  was  next  discussed, 
John  had  a  suggestion  to  make. 

"  Gentlemen,"  he  said,  "  we  are  agreed  that  if  there 
is  to  be  a  war  we  cannot  risk  investments.  At  present 
we  cannot  tell  truth  from  rumor.  I  have  thought  the 
matter  over,  and  I  have  made  up  my  mind  to  start  South 
at  once,  and  satisfy  myself  how  far  the  so-called  Con 
federacy  will  carry  its  opposition." 

"  That's  a  good  idee,"  said  Blodgett,  rubbing  his  chin. 
"  Senator,  what  d'  you  say  ?  " 

Senator  Wingate  nodded.  "  I  say  yes  —  that  is,  if 
there  is  not  too  much  danger  in  the  undertaking." 

"  No,  there  is  not.  The  situation  is  not  so  critical 
as  all  that.  Then  it  is  decided.  I  leave  Monday  morn 
ing." 

On  Sunday  night,  after  a  day  of  preparation,  John 
made  his  way  up  Euclid  Avenue.  The  windows  of  the 
Wingate  house  were  blazing  with  light,  and  as  he  came 
up  the  path  he  heard  the  sound  of  a  closing  hymn,  and 
then  the  clatter  of  many  voices  as  the  door  swung  open. 

"  Ruf  us,  tell  Miss  Wingate  that  I  would  like  to  see  her 
a  moment,"  he  said. 

The  gathering  in  the  parlor  had  started  to  sing  "  Jesus, 
lover  of  my  soul."  He  stood  in  the  hall,  listening,  won 
dering  from  how  many  a  home  through  the  broad  South 
that  night  the  same  prayer  was  rising. 


262  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

"  Hide  me,  oh,  my  Saviour,  hide, 
Till  the  storm  of  life  is  past ; 
Safe  into  the  haven  guide  — 
Oh,  receive  my  soul  at  last." 

And  on  the  last  bars  Marjory  came. 

"  I  have  come  to  say  good-by,"  John  said.  "  I  wanted 
to  see  you  before  I  went." 

"  Father  told  me,"  she  answered,  leading  the  way  into 
the  library.  "  Are  you  going  to  be  gone  long  ?  There 
is  no  danger,  is  there  ?  I  —  I  must  not  stay  long. 
Mother  will  be  sending  for  me." 

She  was  unaccountably  nervous,  a  sudden  timidity 
showing  in  every  action.  John,  puzzling  over  the 
change,  watched  her  as  she  took  her  seat  in  the  big 
arm-chair  before  the  fire,  wondering  with  a  sinking 
dread  why  her  glance  had  not  once  met  his. 

"  Danger  ?  No,  not  a  bit,"  he  said  at  last,  still  watching 
the  girl  as  she  stared  dreamily  into  the  grate.  "How  long 
shall  I  be  gone  ?  Oh,  six  weeks  —  two  months,  perhaps." 

The  same  embarrassment  that  had  taken  possession 
of  Marjory  came  over  him.  He  went  before  the  grate, 
holding  out  his  hands,  and  stealing  a  look  at  the  blond 
head  buried  in  the  deep  of  her  palm.  Then  he  drew  up 
a  chair,  and  dropped  into  it,  saying  :  — 

"Well,  I  won't  keep  you  long.  I  must  hurry  off  myself." 

"  Forgive  me.  I  have  something  on  my  mind,"  she 
said,  with  a  bright  smile,  recovering  her  poise.  "  I  will 
try  to  be  a  better  companion." 

At  her  manner  all  his  fears  dissolved,  and  rising  again, 
he  turned  his  back  to  the  fire,  and,  looking  down  upon 
her,  said :  — 

"  How  queer  we  two  are !  I  begin  to  suspect  that 
you  know  me  better  than  any  one,  even  than  Jack, 
though  he  has  lived  with  me  more  years  than  you  have 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  263 

known  me  months.  Then  I  think  I  know  you  too,  in 
the  same  way.  That  is  because  you  have  let  me  see 
yourself,  isn't  it?" 

Her  eyelids  seemed  to  lift  without  her  will.  Her  eyes 
shone  into  his,  and  she  said  very  low,  "  Yes." 

"  Do  you  remember  the  night  we  met  ?  "  John  con 
tinued,  wondering  at  the  look.  "  Why  should  you  have 
known  at  once  just  how  I  felt  —  you,  out  of  all  the  world, 
to  have  seen  it  ?  I  have  never  understood." 

"I  —  I  don't  know,"  Marjory  forced  herself  to  say. 
She  was  frightened  at  something  within  her.  She  rose 
hurriedly.  "I  —  I  must  not  stay  any  longer,  mother 
will  be  calling  me ;  and  so  —  " 

"  So  good-by."  He  sprang  up,  not  understanding, 
hurt  by  her  manner.  "  Good-by." 

She  held  out  her  hand,  bowed  her  head,  and  moved 
toward  the  door.  Then  all  at  once,  the  thought  of  his 
absence,  of  the  risk  he  would  run,  of  the  one  chance, 
though  it  were  one  in  a  thousand,  that  she  might  never 
see  him  again,  —  all  this  came  over  her,  and  drove  out 
her  timidity.  She  returned,  holding  out  both  hands,  and 
said  with  ill-suppressed  emotion  :  "  Not  good-by  —  that 
is  too  harsh  a  word  for  friends.  Until  we  meet  again." 

He  took  her  hand  without  an  answer,  while  she,  divin 
ing  how  he  misunderstood  her,  added  gently :  "  Don't 
think  there  is  anything  strange  in  me  to-night.  You 
are  wrong.  I  am  only  —  only  not  quite  myself.  You 
will  be  careful  —  won't  you?  " 

"  For  your  sake  ? "  He  looked  into  her  face,  and  saw 
there  the  same  look  that  had  puzzled  him  a  moment 
before.  "  For  your  sake  ? " 

"  For  my  sake.  Now,  go !  oh,  do,  please  go !  "  and 
dropping  her  head,  her  heart  beating  wildly,  she  almost 
compelled  him  from  the  room. 


CHAPTER  XXVII 

Two  months  later,  on  the  i$th  of  April,  responding 
to  a  telegram  announcing  his  return,  Senator  Wingate 
and  Mr.  Blodgett  went  to  John's  apartment.  They 
found  him  just  arrived,  busily  unpacking  his  valise,  an 
operation  which  was  being  superintended  from  the 
lounge  by  Jack,  who  at  their  entrance  discreetly  made 
his  bow  and  withdrew. 

"  Well !  "  Blodgett  inquired  sharply,  when  the  greet 
ings  were  over.  "  Come  to  the  point." 

"  The  worst." 

"  What !     You  believe  then  —  "  the  senator  began. 

"  I  believe  that  before  three  months  are  over  this 
country  will  be  in  the  midst  of  a  great  civil  war." 

Blodgett  rubbed  his  chin,  the  senator  walked  silently 
to  the  window  and  drummed  upon  the  pane. 

"  We  have  heard  enough  here  to  leave  no  doubt  of 
the  approaching  conflict,"  he  said.  "What  we  want  to 
know  is  the  extent  of  the  opposition." 

"South  Carolina,  sir,  is  but  the  leader.  The  crisis 
is  with  the  whole  South.  I  have  visited  almost  every 
state.  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  they  will  all  fight  at 
the  first  provocation." 

"  What  of  Virginia  ? " 

"  She  will  secede." 

"  How  'bout  Maryland  ? "  put  in  Blodgett. 

"  I  don't  know,"  said  John.     "  I  can't  tell." 

"  Say  there  is  war,  John,"  Blodgett  began,  tapping 
the  back  of  a  chair  as  he  spoke,  "  how  long  is  it 

264 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  265 

goin'  to  last?  You  ain't  goin'  to  tell  me,  John,  that 
South  Carolina,  or  the  whole  lot  of  them  Southern  states, 
can  stand  up  against  us  for  over  three  months  ?  They 
ain't  prepared,  they  ain't  got  the  money." 

"  They  are  prepared,  Mr.  Blodgett.  Companies  have 
been  drilling  night  and  day  for  months.  They  have 
money,  they  have  ammunition  in  plenty,  and  every 
day  they  are  adding  to  their  store.  To-day  they  are 
better  organized,  better  prepared  for  a  conflict,  than 
ourselves.  You  cannot  overestimate  the  preparation  in 
the  South." 

"  He  is  right,"  said  the  senator,  returning.  "  Blod 
gett,  it's  a  long  war  we  have  to  face,  a  hard  and  cruel 
one." 

"  Yes,  but  how  long,  John,  how  long  ?  " 

John  shook  his  head. 

"  Eight  months  ?    Will  it  last  over  that  ?    Come  now." 

"I  should  say,  rather,  three  years  —  over  two  at 
least." 

"  Fully  that,"  Senator  Wingate  concurred  gloomily. 
11  Blodgett,  we  can't  afford  to  take  risks ;  we  must  give 
up  the  railroad  scheme." 

"  Let  her  go  then."  Blodgett  moved  off,  clicking  to 
himself  as  he  always  did  when  things  displeased  him. 
"  Of  course,  of  course,  that's  up.  Devilish  hard  luck 
though.  Well,  well;  if  things  are  that  serious,  I  must 
look  for  my  securities."  He  sat  down  at  the  desk,  and 
pulling  out  a  note-book,  busied  himself  with  figures. 

"  Mr.  Gaunt,"  the  senator  asked,  moving  over,  "  I 
hope  you  had  no  disagreeable  experiences  ? " 

"  Well,  nothing  serious,"  John  answered,  "  a  little 
unpleasantness  in  Louisiana  —  I  wouldn't  care  to  repeat 
the  trip." 

"  We  have  missed  you  at  the  house,"  the  senator  con- 


266  ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

tinued,  examining  curiously  the  odd  assortment  upon 
the  walls.  "  You  have  quite  a  collection  here.  You 
will  come  around  soon  and  tell  us  of  your  experiences  ? " 

"  Indeed  I  shall.  How  is  Dick  doing  ?  I  only 
had  a  word  with  Hazard,  but  he  gave  me  a  good 
report." 

"  I  have  to  thank  you  for  that.  I  do  not  forget  such 
things  easily.  Dick  is  doing  better  than  I  dared  to 
hope." 

"Miss  Marjory  —  she  is  well,  I  hope?" 

"  Yes !  I  would  urge  you  to  come  in  to-night,  but  I 
believe  she  is  going  to  a  dance." 

"  Oh,  to  Mrs.  Blodgett's,  at  the  Inn  ?  Yes,  I  sup 
posed  so.  I  have  a  card  here."  He  stood  a  moment 
thoughtfully.  "  I  am  going  also.  If  she  has  no  escort, 
I  should  like  to  take  her.  Do  you  think,"  he  added 
with  a  smile,  "  I  could  make  the  invitation  through  you  ? 
It  is  late,  and  I  could  not  see  her  before  dinner." 

"  I  shall  be  glad  to  have  you  take  her,"  the  senator 
answered  simply,  but  his  eyes  searched  his  companion's 
face.  "  Dick  was  to  have  gone.  Come,  then,  at  half- 
past  eight.  I  had  put  you  down  for  a  Benedick  in  such 
matters." 

"  Well,"  said  John,  consciously,  "  I'm  beginning  to 
see  the  error  of  my  ways." 

The  senator  shook  hands  with  him,  it  seemed  to 
John  a  little  more  cordially  than  usual,  and  with  a  nod 
to  Blodgett,  went  out. 

"  Hello,"  cried  the  latter,  "  we  didn't  calkilate  on 
you.  Refreshments  may  not  go  'round,  you  know." 

"Well,  here's  a  promise  to  refrain,"  said  John, 
laughing. 

"  Oh,  come  now,  you  ain't  takin'  me  in  earnest. 
Bless  your  soul!  wait  till  you  get  there.  When  Sam 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  267 

Blodgett  gives  a  party,  he  don't  play  second  fiddle  to 
any  one  —  put  that  down,  John  Gaunt" 

"  All  right     Then  the  promise  is  withdrawn." 

"  It's  at  the  Inn  —  drive  out  with  your  girls,  you 
know,"  cried  Blodgett,  trying  the  easiest  chair,  and  put 
ting  his  feet  up  on  the  lounge.  He  pulled  out  a  cigar, 
champed  on  the  end  of  it,  and  continued  :  "  Sit  down, 
sit  down,  I've  a  lot  to  talk  over  with  you.  Well,  John, 
that  railroad  scheme  is  up  in  the  air  high  as  a  kite. 
Well,  let  her  go !  But  John,  listen.  I've  got  a  scheme 
worth  two  of  that.  You  say  there's  goin'  to  be  a  war  ; 
you  are  sure  of  it.  It's  goin'  to  be  long.  We're  not 
ready  for  it  John,  just  look  at  the  chance  for  big 
money ;  railroads  are  nothing  alongside  of  it  What 
does  it  mean  ?  Horses  !  mules !  hay !  fodder  !  pro 
visions  !  clothes !  thousands  of  them,  millions !  It 
means — are  ye  listenin'  to  me?  —  it  means  fortunes  to 
them  that  sees  what's  comin'.  What  do  you  say  to 
that  ? "  and  he  went  on  to  elaborate  his  scheme,  punctu 
ating  it  with  handclaps,  after  the  Blodgett  manner. 

"  You  don't  mean,  Blodgett,"  said  John,  who  had 
listened  with  growing  surprise,  "  you  don't  mean  you'd 
make  money  out  of  the  needs  of  your  country  ? " 

"Why  not,  why  not?  Some  one's  got  to  sell,  why 
not  you  and  me  ? " 

"You  have  said  there  was  'big  money'  in  it.  That 
means  only  one  thing." 

"  John,  you're  squeamish.  You  don't  know  business. 
Think  it  over." 

"Thank  you,  no,"  John  cut  in,  coldly.  "I  can't  go 
with  you  there." 

"  As  you  please,"  said  Blodgett,  throwing  up  his 
hands.  "  Business  is  business.  If  I  do  contract  for 
the  government,  I'll  give  'em  honest  goods  and  full 


268  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

measure,  which  is  more  than  most  will  do.  Well,  you 
have  spoken  your  mind  —  let  her  go !  I  wanted  to  take 
you  in  with  me,  and  lift  you  up.  I  would  have  made 
you,  John.  Well,  let  her  go.  Don't  let's  say  anything 
more  about  it." 

He  thrust  his  hands  deep  in  his  pockets,  and  moved 
clumsily  about  the  room,  whistling  to  himself. 

"  I  can't  make  you  out,  John,  hanged  if  I  can  !  "  The 
burly  figure  returned,  the  sinking  little  eyes  half  closed 
in  quizzical  scrutiny.  "  There  ain't  another  man  in 
Cleveland  I  know  would  throw  over  such  a  chance  —  not 
a  man.  You're  different  —  yes,  you  are."  He  closed 
both  eyes  reflectively,  and  then  suddenly  opening  them, 
exclaimed,  "  Well,  here,  give  me  your  hand  —  there  ! 
I  like  you  for  it." 

"  But  you,"  John  answered,  a  little  softened,  "  your 
mind  is  made  up  ? " 

"  Yes,  I'm  different,  too.  John,"  he  began,  resuming 
his  chair  with  an  air  of  importance,  "see  here,  now, 
you've  never  understood  me.  I  like  you.  I've  liked 
you  from  the  day  you  came  and  defied  me  in  my  office. 
I'd  like  to  boost  you  along.  You  mistrust  me.  You 
think  because  I've  had  hard  dealings  and  shady  methods 
with  some  men,  that  I  might  do  the  same  with  you. 
You're  wrong,  you're  wrong.  That's  where  you  don't 
know  men." 

He  finished,  stretched  out  more  luxuriously,  threw 
one  leg  over  the  other,  hooked  his  thumbs  in  his  arm 
pits,  and  began  to  fill  the  room  with  smoke. 

"John!" 

"Yes." 

"  Say !  You  and  Phemie  strike  it  off  pretty  well, 
don't  you?" 

"  I  trust  we  do,"  said  John,  wondering  what  was  coming. 


ARROWS   OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  269 

"  Good-lookin'  girls,  ain't  they — stylish  and  eligant? " 

"  They  are." 

"Addie's  mighty  smart,  too  —  bright  as  a  dollar." 

"  Miss  Adelaide  is." 

"  And  while  you're  talkin',  Minnie  certainly  can  touch 
up  that  pianner." 

"  I  have  always  thought  so." 

"Well,  John,"  said  Blodgett,  coming  suddenly  to  the 
point,  "  why  don't  you  marry  one  of  them  ?  They'll  all 
have  yon,  I  know,  and  the  one  who  gets  you  —  well,  I'll 
look  after  her,"  he  added,  with  a  slap  to  his  pocket. 

John  was  so  entirely  taken  off  his  guard,  that  his 
face  went  blank,  and  he  barely  restrained  a  smile. 

"Really,  I  have  never  thought  —  I  reckon  I'm  cut 
out  for  a  bachelor." 

"  Well,  if  you  change  your  mind  at  any  time,"  said 
Blodgett,  looking  reflectively  at  the  end  of  his  cigar. 
"You  won't  do  much  better,  now  —  with  what  I'll  give 
'em,  John.  I'd  like  to  have  you  as  a  son-in-law  —  yes, 
I  would,  and  the  girls  have  just  been  wild  over  you." 

John,  not  knowing  whether  to  be  amused  or  over 
whelmed  by  this  family  offer,  rallied  sufficiently  to  say 
with  firmness :  "  No,  Blodgett,  to  be  as  frank  with  you, 
I  shall  never  think  of  it.  My  mind  is  made  up." 

Blodgett  threw  away  the  stump  of  his  cigar.  "  So  be 
it.  I  was  pretty  sure  what  you'd  say,  but  I  promised 
my  Maggie,  and  —  there,  there!  Now  the  cat's  out  of 
the  bag.  Don't  you  tell  her,  John." 

John  broke  into  a  laugh,  and  promised. 

"  She  was  set  on  havin'  you,"  said  Blodgett,  his  eyes 
beginning  to  twinkle.  "  You  know  the  way  of  a  woman 
when  her  mind's  made  up."  He  stopped  and  began  the 
next  cigar.  "  Go  on  with  your  unpackin',  John,  I'll  sit 
and  watch  a  bit  —  I've  nothin'  to  do." 


«7o  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

John,  taking  him  at  his  word,  passed  to  and  fro,  sort 
ing  out  the  contents  of  his  valise,  throwing  a  curious 
glance  at  the  big  form  puffing  meditatively  on  the  fat 
cigar. 

"John,  between  you  and  me,"  resumed  Blodgett, 
stirring  out  of  his  revery,  as  his  host  came  and  took 
his  seat  by  the  fire,  "between  you  and  me,  I'm  glad 
you  said  what  you  did.  Lord,  John,  what's  the  use  of 
hidin'  from  you  how  things  stand;  they've  not  been 
good  daughters  to  me.  They  only  care  for  what  I  give 
'em.  Little  Florrie  is  the  only  one  of  'em  all  who's 
got  any  affection  for  her  old  father.  I'm  glad  you 
said  what  you  did. 

"  Money  ain't  everything  in  life,  John,"  he  went  on, 
rising.  "  Don't  you  make  that  mistake.  I've  had  it  all, 
but  I  ain't  been  happy.  My  children  don't  care  for 
me.  They're  always  pickin'  on  me  in  public,  always 
criticism'  me,  laughin'  at  me  behind  my  back  —  Sam 
the  worst  of  all.  It  ain't  right.  They  shouldn't  be 
ashamed  of  me  because  I've  had  to  work  to  give  'em 
the  learnin'  I  wasn't  able  to  get  myself.  It  ain't 
right,  I  say.  I  sometimes  wish  I  hadn't  made  all  that 
money.  I  think  I'd  'a'  been  happier  in  the  old  saloon 
as  I  was  twenty  year  ago.  I  go  there  now  when  I'm 
down  in  the  mouth ;  it  cheers  me  up.  Ah,  well,  ah, 
well !  "  He  cleared  his  throat  vigorously  as  John  went 
over  and  laid  his  hand  on  his  shoulder.  "You've  a 
good  heart,  John.  You'd  better  wait  for  little  Florrie. 
I  know  what  it  is ;  you're  a  gentleman,  a  real  one,  and 
that's  somethin'  money  can't  buy. .  That's  the  whole 
trouble  with  my  children,  they  want  to  be  ladies  and 
gentlemen,  but  they're  not,  and  they  can't !  Here,  here, 
I'm  talkin'  you  to  death.  What's  the  time  ?  What ! 
I'm  off  this  moment  —  good-by,  good-by.  You're  the 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  271 

right  sort,  John,  I'll  keep  my  eye  on  you.  Good- 
by." 

John  saw  the  burly  figure  go  lumbering  down  the 
steps,  and  then,  returning  to  the  fire,  threw  himself  into 
the  vacant  chair,  and  a  feeling  of  tenderness  came  over 
him,  as  he  thought  of  this  unsuspected  side  in  the  shrewd 
man  of  business.  Then  the  humor  of  it  broke  out 
above  the  pity,  and  he  put  his  head  back  and  burst  into 
such  a  boisterous  fit  of  laughter  that  the  dogs  came 
tumbling  up  to  learn  the  cause. 

"  Well,  that  was  a  wholesale  proposal !  Won't  Jack 
collapse  when  he  hears  of  it !  Rags,  you  old  bundle  of 
curiosity,  what  do  you  say  to  that  ?  That's  why  he  was 
sounding  me  about  the  girls.  Poor  old  fellow !  I  never 
suspected  this  in  him." 

John  started  up  a  little  guiltily  at  Jack's  entrance, 
forgetting  to  make  any  mention  of  the  extraordinary 
events  of  the  afternoon. 

"  What  the  deuce  is  the  matter  with  you,  old  man  ? " 
cried  Jack,  when  they  were  in  the  room  again,  after 
supper.  "  What  are  you  pulling  at  your  watch  for  ? 
Come  down  out  of  the  clouds.  I  swear  you  haven't 
heard  a  word  I've  said." 

"  What !  Why,  yes,  I  have.  Here,  Jack,  you're  a 
judge,  what  do  you  say  to  this  ?  " 

"  A  new  coat !  "  Jack  emitted  a  long  whistle  as  John 
produced  the  garment  from  his  room.  "  The  very  latest 
style.  My,  what  a  fop  you're  getting,  John ! " 

"  Nonsense ;  the  other  was  in  tatters." 

"  Well,  good  for  you,  old  fellow  !  "  said  Jack,  drawing 
back  with  a  sudden  fall  of  seriousness  ;  "  I  like  to  see 
you  at  your  best.  You'll  stand  with  the  best  of  them 
to-night,  and  it's  right  you  should." 

"  Hello ! "  John  cried,  breaking  into  a  laugh  at  this 


27*  ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

sudden   turn   in   Jack.      "  Now,  what   is   the   meaning 
of  that?" 

"  Don't  know.  There,  stand  up.  Yes,  you'll  do.  I 
like  to  see  you  blossoming  out,  Johnny  Glum  —  you 
should  have  done  so  long  ago." 

"Are  you  going,  Jack?"  John  said,  still  wondering. 

"I?      Perhaps  —  yes,  a  little  later — I  don't  know." 

John  finished  dressing,  pulled  out  his  watch,  and  came 
and  sat  down  decisively.  "Jack,  you  told  me  once  — 
long  ago  —  that  you  were  going  to  tell  me  something 
about  yourself.  You  never  have.  Can't  you  tell  me 
now  ?  I  know  that's  what  is  on  your  mind." 

Jack,  hugging  his  knee,  started  back,  looked  down  a 
moment  curiously,  and  then  answered,  with  a  peculiar 
smile,  "  You  think,  then,  it's  that  I've  been  worrying 
over?" 

"Yes,  frankly;  I've  seen  it  all  the  evening.  Come, 
Jack,  let  me  help  you,  as  you've  stood  by  me." 

The  little  fellow  drew  a  heavy  breath,  rose,  and 
moved  to  the  window,  John  watching,  shook  his  head 
twice  slowly,  and  said,  without  turning,  "Well,  I  can't 
now;  I've  changed  my  mind." 

"  Why,  Jack  ? " 

"  There  is  a  reason  —  I  can't  tell  you  what  now,  but 
I  will  soon." 

He  came  back  and  looked  into  John's  face  wistfully, 
and  said,  "  Perhaps  to-morrow,  but  —  but  soon,  anyhow." 


CHAPTER  XXVIII 

"  WHAT  has  come  over  Jack  ? "  thought  John,  as  he 
hurried  down  the  dim  stairs  and  out  into  the  street. 
"It's  that  something  back  in  his  past;  but  why  should 
he  act  so  queerly  about  telling  me  ?  I  don't  understand 
him." 

The  buggy  was  waiting  indistinct  at  the  curb.  He 
sprang  in,  took  the  reins,  and  drove  off,  all  thought  of 
Jack  vanishing  from  his  mind.  He  resorted  again  to 
his  watch  —  still  a  quarter  of  an  hour  early!  So  he 
turned  up  a  round-about  way,  the  horse  falling  into  an 
easy  jog,  and  sank  back  into  the  depths  of  the  buggy, 
staring  down  where  the  running  flare  of  the  side  lamps 
lighted  up  the  black  road  underneath.  Men  and  their 
handicraft,  the  glare  and  the  noise  of  the  city,  the  black 
streets  and  the  blazing  slits  in  the  curtained  windows,  once 
to  him  so  alert  with  the  pathos  and  the  tragedy  and  the 
thirst  of  human  life,  were  now  of  the  realm  of  the  un 
real,  whirling  by  him  like  a  fantastic  panorama.  Out  of 
a  hundred  faces  he  saw  one,  amid  the  jumble  of  sounds 
he  heard  one  voice.  He  did  not  think  what  he  should 
say,  he  did  not  plan  what  he  should  do.  He  knew  all  he 
cared  to  know :  he  was  going  to  meet  her. 

When  the  door  clicked  he  looked  up  eagerly.  The 
senator  came  out  and  gave  him  his  greetings,  followed 
by  Mrs.  Wingate  in  silent  brown.  He  felt  they  were 
studying  him,  the  mother  persistently,  the  senator 
gravely,  with  a  touch  of  sadness.  John,  instantly  grown 
T  273 


274  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

conscious,  began  to  answer  questions  at  random,  to  laugh 
and  to  talk  without  quite  knowing  what  he  said,  until 
suddenly  a  footstep  sounding  in  the  hall  he  stopped  on 
a  word,  looking  up  so  eagerly,  as  the  door  creaked  and 
swung,  that  he  did  not  see  Mrs.  Wingate  in  the  shadow 
pluck  at  her  husband's  sleeve. 

It  was  Marjory  at  last — Marjory,  under  the  glow  of 
the  flaming  lamp,  drawing  her  wraps  across  her  bare 
throat,  her  cheeks  glowing,  her  eyes  hesitating,  forget- 
me-nots  in  her  hair,  and  a  glimpse  of  a  soft  blue  gown 
underneath  the  scarfs. 

She  gave  him  her  hand  and  away  they  rolled  in  the 
carriage,  down  the  echoing  street,  without  a  word  to  say 
to  each  other. 

"Straight  ahead  —  isn't  it?"  said  John  at  last,  irrele 
vantly. 

"Straight  ahead,  yes,"  answered  Marjory,  and  then 
she  forced  herself  to  break  the  silence.  She  hurried 
on  to  talk  of  a  dozen  different  topics,  lightly,  hastily, 
feverishly,  skipping  from  one  to  another,  at  times 
appealing  for  his  answer.  They  had  now  left  the  city, 
and  were  speeding  out  through  the  darkling  country. 
He  drew  in  the  reins  and  checked  their  speed,  saying 
apologetically,  "  I  have  been  away  so  long,  and  we 
shall  be  there  so  soon."  ,. 

At  the  first  sound  of  his  voice,  Marjory  had  sunk  back 
in  the  seat,  trembling,  scarcely  moving.  If  it  is  hard  to 
love  and  ask,  what  is  it  to  love  and  wait  ? 

Carriages  bound  for  the  dance  began  to  roll  past  them, 
leaving  in  their  trail  snatches  of  laughter  and  song. 

"  I'm  afraid  I  am  not  made  for  a  good  time,"  said  John, 
impulsively.  "  I  never  can  fall  into  other  people's  moods. 
Now  these  people  —  their  gayety  seems  to  me  so  fever 
ish.  Some  people  seem  to  live  in  the  world  only  for  the 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  275 

good  times  they  can  get  out  of  it.  Well,  perhaps  it  is 
my  fault  —  or  my  misfortune.  And  just  now  I  am  even 
less  in  the  mood  than  usual.  I  have  just  been  through 
the  South  ;  I  know  what's  coming.  There  is  something 
ominous  in  all  this."  He  paused  awhile,  drew  a  long 
breath,  and  continued:  "Well,  now,  I'm  not  going  to 
think  of  that,  I  am  too  happy  to  be  here  with  you  again. 
It  seems  as  though  I  hadn't  been  a  day  away  from  you ; 
as  though  it  were  only  yesterday  I  said  good-by  —  well, 
so  it  is." 

The  crowd  grew  thicker.  They  saw  in  the  distance 
the  twinkle  of  lights. 

"  What  a  night !  "  he  said.  "  It  is  just  like  the  one 
in  my  boyhood  I  told  you  of."  He  drew  his  whip  along 
the  line  of  the  sky.  The  night  was  brilliant.  On  the 
west  a  sheath  of  clouds  spread  out  on  the  horizon  like 
mountains  of  mystery.  "  Do  you  know,  I  used  to  envy 
the  stars.  They  had  seen  so  many  races  of  'men  blotted 
out :  they  would  see  so  many  more.  They  would  go 
on  and  on  forever,  cold  and  eternal,  when  I,  the  child 
that  looked  at  them,  would  be  dust.  I  used  to  envy 
them  —  I  don't  now.  They  live — but  they  can  never 
know  what  the  life  of  a  man  can  bring,"  he  added  softly, 
as  though  to  himself.  They  were  within  the  strains  of 
music  —  almost  there.  The  lamp  at  the  gate  shone  in 
their  faces  as  he  laid  his  hand  on  her  arm,  and  said :  — 

"  Do  you  understand  ? " 

She  could  only  answer  him  with  the  soul  in  her  look 
of  comprehension.  You  may  look  into  a  hundred  eyes 
that  love  you,  but  through  only  two  may  you  see 
beyond. 

Then  upon  their  ears  fell  the  babble  of  voices.  The 
glare  of  lights  enveloped  them.  They  were  at  the  stoop, 
looking  up  into  a  throng  of  promenaders.  Some  one 


276  ARROWS  OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

handed  Marjory  down,  and  she  ran  in  with  bowed  head 
as  John  drove  on  to  the  stables. 

He  walked  up  and  down,  picking  his  way  among  the 
crowded  vehicles,  and  at  last  back  to  the  Inn,  glancing 
curiously  at  the  moving  crowd  within.  Two  or  three  of 
his  acquaintances  came  up  and  shook  hands  with  him, 
and  began  anxious  inquiries,  for  the  purpose  of  his  visit 
to  the  South  was  known.  One  by  one  they  fell  off,  and 
he  was  left  alone.  He  moved  over  and  stood  in  a  knot 
of  men  about  the  door,  looking  in  at  the  polka,  his 
serious  face  high  above  the  rest,  scanning  the  glitter 
ing  company.  It  was  a  strange  antithesis :  within,  the 
light  and  sparkle  of  the  dance,  laughter  and  careless 
merriment;  outside,  shadow  and  the  ominous  talk  of 
war.  Here,  he  thought,  are  the  men  that  before  long 
are  to  lie  on  Southern  battlefields,  and  here  the  women, 
already  recoiling  at  the  summons  of  the  trumpet.  He 
wondered  if  these  careless  young  fellows  were  the 
stuff  out  of  which  the  nation's  heroes  must  be  fashioned. 
He  lived  to  learn  that  Fate,  not  so  choice  as  Love,  takes 
her  favorites  where  she  finds  them.  As  he  gazed,  with 
prophetic  face,  the  words  came  to  his  lips,  — 

"  There  was  a  sound  of  revelry  by  night," 

and  half  aloud  he  repeated  them. 

All  at  once  he  caught  the  flash  of  a  blue  gown,  and 
Marjory  was  on  the  floor,  surrounded  by  a  dozen  part 
ners.  He  screened  himself,  moving  a  little  farther  into 
the  shadow,  and  watching  each  movement.  The  violins 
sounded  the  gay  summons  to  the  quadrille.  For  a 
moment  the  floor  was  clouded  with  couples  crowding 
to  their  places;  when  at  last  John  turned,  the  gleam  of 
the  turquoise  gown  showed  directly  in  front.  He  saw 
nothing  else.  The  group  about  the  door  thickened,  as 


ARROWS   OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  277 

those  not  then  dancing  came  crowding  up  to  watch 
where  Marjory,  like  the  spirit  of  motion,  led  the  qua 
drille.  She  courtesied,  and  her  whole  body  swayed  in 
rhythm.  She  advanced,  and  the  fluttering  fan  became 
a  part  of  the  movement.  Her  face  seemed  inspired, 
her  foot  bewitched.  Her  eyes  wandered  from  window 
to  window,  until  suddenly  resting  on  the  group  in  the 
dim  doorway,  they  went  down  to  the  floor,  and  searched 
no  more. 

"  How  graceful  she  is,"  he  said  to  himself  softly,  "  so 
fair,  so  pure.  She  fills  the  whole  room  with  her  beauty." 
He  heard  the  men  about  him  exclaiming  at  her  charm, 
and  suddenly  he  could  look  in  at  her  no  longer.  He 
turned  on  his  heel  and  went  down  the  steps.  It  had 
come  over  him  at  last  —  the  "might  of  his  love,  the  force 
of  the  longing  in  his  soul,  and  with  it  the  thought  of 
what  it  would  mean  to  him  if  it  were  not  to  be.  After 
all,  what  did  he  know  of  a  maiden's  heart !  Oh,  what 
a  fire  was  running  in  his  brain  as  he  paced  along  the 
paths,  in  and  out  of  the  scattered  and  curious  couples. 
He  came  back  again,  and  again,  as  a  moth  to  the  light, 
and  at  last  stopped  and  searched  among  the  company. 
She  was  standing  under  a  chandelier,  scanning  the 
room  anxiously.  He  saw  her  linger  several  minutes  in 
hesitation  before  she  gave  her  hand  to  a  waiting  partner. 

The  schottische  ended,  he  threaded  his  way  to  where 
she  was  standing.  She  had  not  seen  his  coming.  At 
his  call  she  turned  quickly,  with  an  inquiry  in  her  face, 
and  slipping  her  hand  through  his  proffered  arm,  said : 
"  Take  me  outside,  won't  you  ?  Why  didn't  you  come 
sooner  ?  I  have  been  waiting  for  you." 

"  I  am  a  stranger  in  a  strange  land  here,"  said  John, 
a  little  sadly.  "As  I  told  you,  I  do  not  dance." 

"That  isn't  the  only  thing,  even  at  a  ball." 


278  ARROWS   OF   THE   ALMIGHTY 

They  were  silent,  moving  about  the  paths  without  a 
word  to  say  to  each  other. 

"When  shall  you  wish  to  go  ?  " 

Marjory  looked  about.  People  were  already  begin 
ning  to  leave. 

"  After  the  next,  then." 

She  signalled  Dick,  who  was  passing  near,  and 
danced  that  waltz  with  him.  Around  and  around  they 
whirled,  the  swimming  lights,  the  shifting  floor,  the 
stars  peeping  through  the  door,  revolving  past  her  — 
the  music  beating  against  her  temples.  But  through 
all  the  maze  she  saw  one  figure,  tall,  looming  above  the 
fringe  of  on-lookers,  one  face  serious  and  intent,  whose 
eyes  never  for  a  moment  left  her  figure.  She  nodded 
her  head,  she  hummed  the  music,  she  closed  her  eyes 
at  times,  urging  Dick  constantly  faster ;  she  wanted  no 
one  to  see  what  was  in  her  soul ;  his  showed  too  plainly 
in  his  face. 

The  waltz  ended,  and  before  she  knew  it  she  was  in 
the  buggy,  at  his  side,  speeding  back  into  the  friendly 
night.  The  dark  fields  and  blacker  woods  rose  up  and 
shut  out  all  the  world.  Only  they  two  were  there, 
under  the  emblazoned  scroll  of  the  night. 

"  Marjory." 

At  her  name  she  began  to  tremble.  She  started  to 
talk,  unconscious  of  what  she  was  saying.  Her  breast 
was  rising  and  falling,  and  everything  swam  before  her. 

"  Marjory,"  he  repeated  gently,  and  his  hand  slipped 
down  and  took  hers.  Her  other  she  put  suddenly  to 
her  heart.  "  Marjory,  may  I  tell  you  ?  " 

On  and  on  they  went,  minute  after  minute  in  silence, 
her  hand  throbbing  in  his.  He  stopped,  tiptoe  on  the 
great  threshold,  listening  for  the  permission  that  she,  in 
the  panic  of  her  waiting,  could  not  utter. 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  279 

"  Listen,  Marjory,"  he  said  at  last,  slowly.  "  I  don't 
know  what  I  am  saying,  I  don't  know  what  I'm  doing 
—  only  —  only,  I  love  you,  Marjory;  I  love  you;  I 
must  tell  you."  He  stopped,  turned,  waited,  and  whis 
pered,  "And  you,  Marjory — and  you?" 

A  lifetime  hung  on  the  balance  of  the  moment.  She 
was  reeling  at  his  side,  faint,  dizzy,  suffocating,  hearing 
as  in  a  dream  the  ring  of  his  question. 

"  Oh  — oh,  John,"  she  cried,  putting  her  hand  to  her 
throat.  "  Oh,  of  course  I  do  —  you  know  it ;  you  must 
know  it ! " 

For  a  moment  he  could  not  stir,  the  seconds  of  her 
hesitation  had  filled  him  with  thoughts  so  terrible. 
Then  he  saw  how  she  trembled,  and  he  put  out  his  arm 
and  drew  her  to  him,  crying,  "  Marjory !  Marjory !  "  as 
he  bent  over  her. 

"  Oh,  John,  oh,  my  John,"  she  whispered.  She  lifted 
her  face  to  his:  "Don't  —  don't  try  to  tell  me.  You 
can't.  I  understand." 

Her  head  rested  upon  his  shoulder,  she  shut  her 
eyes.  Nothing  could  take  him  from  her  now  —  she 
was  his,  his  alone.  Once  he  bent  down  as  though  to 
speak,  but  she  said  again,  laying  a  finger  gently  across 
his  lips,  "Hush  —  hush,"  and  he  who  at  first  had  been 
awed  at  the  wonder  of  his  own  love,  waited  dumb  before 
the  might  of  the  emotion  in  her. 

So  he  sat,  drawing  her  closer  and  closer  to  his  side, 
gazing  up  into  the  vast  stretch  of  the  glowing  sky, 
seeing  there,  feeling  there,  things  beyond  the  reach  of 
words,  in  the  old,  old  way,  as  lovers  have  searched  that 
eternal  and  inscrutable  book,  from  century  to  century, 
since  the  world  began,  and  as  they  will  continue  to  do 
until  man  and  woman  shall  be  no  more. 


CHAPTER   XXIX 

WHEN  they  turned  into  the  driveway  a  light  was  still 
showing  in  the  window  of  the  library. 

"  Shall  it  be  now  ?  "  said  John.  "  Shall  I  tell  him  now  ? " 

"Not  now — not  just  now  —  and  not  to-morrow." 
As  she  spoke,  her  fingers  closed  entreatingly  over  his 
hand.  "Just  for  one  day  let  us  keep  it  all  to  ourselves. 
All  the  rest  of  our  life  will  belong  to  the  world  —  let 
to-morrow  be  ours.  Don't  you  understand  ? " 

He  lifted  her  fingers  to  his  lips  and  kissed  them.  She 
turned  suddenly,  put  her  hands  on  his  shoulder,  and  cried 
impulsively :  — 

"  John,  John,  do  you  know  what  this  means  —  can 
you  know  ?  It  means  that  I  am  yours,  and  you  are  mine, 
through  sorrow  and  pain  and  sickness,  through  death 
and  forever  after." 

"And  forever  after,"  he  repeated  slowly.  "  I  cannot 
see  your  eyes,  Marjory,  but  I  know  what  they  are  telling 
mine.  I  cannot  tell  you  what  is  in  my  soul.  It  is  all 
so  strange ;  I  have  never  stopped  to  reason.  Something 
divine  must  have  swept  us  together.  To-morrow  shall 
be  ours.  Good  night,  beloved." 

The  lamp  flashed  out  above  them  and  Marjory  sprang 
down.  One  reluctant  look,  a  wave  of  a  scarf,  and  she 
was  gone. 

John  drove  home  at  top  speed,  threw  the  reins  to  a 
yawning  stable-boy,  and  hurried  to  his  room.  He  un 
dressed  quickly  in  the  dark,  slipped  under  the  covers, 

280 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  281 

and  lay  quietly,  as  the  dogs,  who  had  been  disturbed  at 
his  entrance,  returned  to  their  beds.  From  the  farther 
room  he  heard  Jack  breathing  heavily,  in  broken  slumber. 

He  was  face  to  face  with  his  own  soul.  The  great 
love  that  had  come  to  him,  had  come,  not  seeking  to  be 
proclaimed,  but  stealing  gently  into  every  sense.  He 
had  been  content  to  follow  unquestioningly.  Now  in 
the  silent  darkness  he  began  to  think. 

Before,  it  had  seemed  to  him  as  though  he  had  known 
Marjory  all  his  life.  Now,  in  all  the  glow  of  the  sudden 
revelation  of  her  soul,  he  knew  her  not  at  all,  and  with 
that  perplexing  thought  came  to  him  the  seriousness  of 
the  step. 

"  I  am  no  longer  free  —  no  longer  alone  in  this  world," 
he  thought ;  "  a  human  soul  is  mine,  whose  happiness, 
whose  very  life,  I  hold  in  my  hand,  —  whom  I  must  pro 
tect  against  all  the  world.  How  much  I  must  do  to 
be  worthy  of  her !  "  Suddenly  he  felt  all  the  weight  of 
responsibility.  It  was  the  irrevocable  step  ;  her  life  was 
in  the  cast  as  well  as  his.  Instinctively  he  recoiled  before 
the  final  answer,  while  doubts  and  memories,  dark  sug 
gestions  and  uneasy  thoughts,  rushed  through  his  mind 
and  tortured  it. 

He  drew  his  hand  across  his  forehead,  and  turned  rest 
lessly  in  his  bed.  The  recollection  of  his  childhood,  the 
shadow  of  his  father,  that  strong  ominous  dread  of  death 
that  had  never  really  left  him,  rose  again  before  his  eyes. 
How  often  he  had  recoiled  at  the  thought  of  eternity. 
To  go  on  and  on  and  on  forever,  to  stretch  forever 
through  space  and  find  no  end,  had  been  to  him  a  con 
ception  too  terrible  and  too  incomprehensible.  Rather 
had  he  longed  to  die,  to  cease  with  the  last  breath,  to 
pass  into  nothingness,  no  thought,  no  sense,  no  sound  — 
ending  this,  to  end  all. 


282  ARROWS  OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

Now  he  felt  the  dawning  of  life's  mystery,  and  appre 
hended  the  wonder  of  humanity,  ignorant,  debased,  and 
blind,  struggling,  through  love,  for  ages  toward  a  des 
tiny  of  glory. 

Slowly,  lying  there  in  the  quiet  watches  of  the  night, 
the  burdens  of  years  slipped  and  fell  away.  All  the 
distrust  of  men,  the  bitterness  toward  women,  the  cyni 
cism  and  the  doubts  took  flight,  like  a  rout  of  evil  spirits. 

"And  I  am  yours,  and  you  are  mine,"  out  of  the  dark 
ness  he  seemed  to  hear  a  voice,  "  through  sorrow  and 
pain  and  sickness,  through  death  and  forever  after." 

He  folded  his  hands  across  his  breast  and  called 
softly  upon  her  name,  and  the  answer  to  the  cry  of  his 
soul  was  peace. 

The  first  grays  of  the  morning  had  already  streaked 
the  sky.  The  world  was  beginning  to  pale  with  the 
dawn.  He  drew  his  bed  down  to  the  window,  and  turn 
ing  on  his  elbow,  watched  the  east  flush  with  the  heralds 
of  the  sun. 

"This  is  the  end  of  all  the  old  black  life,"  he  thought, 
straining  his  eyes  toward  the  coming  of  the  day.  "  It 
has  gone  out  with  the  night.  This  is  the  dawn  of  the 
new.  At  last  —  at  last !  " 

When  Marjory  and  her  father  had  passed  down  the 
aisle  and  reached  their  pew  in  old  Trinity  on  that  Sun 
day  morning,  they  became  aware  that  something  unusual 
was  taking  place.  There  was  a  stir,  almost  a  whisper, 
moving  through  the  church.  At  the  sound  of  every 
footstep,  curious  faces  were  turning  from  every  quarter 
toward  the  entrance,  and  then  back  uneasily  toward  the 
still  vacant  chancel.  Marjory  felt  a  touch  on  her  sleeve, 
and,  turning  to  her  father,  saw  him  holding  out  his 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  283 

watch,  silently,  with  an  expression  of  wonder.  She 
glanced  down,  it  was  already  five  minutes  beyond  the 
time  of  service.  As  she  leaned  over  to  whisper  a  ques 
tion,  there  came  a  sudden  rustling  over  the  pews,  then 
an  audible  murmur,  and  the  next  moment  her  father's 
hand  closed  over  her  wrist,  and  she  heard  him  cry  under 
his  breath,  "  Look  —  look  !  " 

The  door  of  the  vestry  opened,  and  the  tall,  thin  fig 
ure  of  Doctor  Starkey  crossed  the  chancel,  passed  with 
firm  tread  beyond  the  railing,  down  the  steps,  and  came 
to  a  stand  before  the  pews.  Another  murmur  ran 
through  the  church,  for  he  stood,  without  his  robes, 
one  hand  raised,  waiting. 

The  murmur  faded  away,  and  a  quick  hush  succeeded 
as  the  clergyman  began  that  appeal  for  the  Union  that 
no  one  there  present  ever  forgot. 

Sumter  had  fallen  !  Marjory  glanced  at  her  father 
askance,  hardly  daring  to  break  the  silence  with  the 
rustle  of  a  motion.  He  was  staring  ahead,  his  cheeks 
reddening  with  the  fire  of  the  patriot's  address.  The 
tears  were  in  his  eyes  as  he  turned  and  caught  her 
hand. 

"  It  has  come,  Marjory,  it  has  come  !  " 

She  glanced  down  the  aisle,  her  eyes,  too,  half  blinded 
with  tears.  Old  men  were  leaning  forward,  trembling 
with  emotion,  straining  their  eyes  at  the  face  of  the 
preacher,  consternation,  horror,  anger,  or  resolve  flut 
tering  on  their  faces  as  the  earnest  and  indignant  words 
fell  upon  the  congregation,  overwhelming  every  heart 
with  the  torrent  of  their  eloquence. 

The  address  ended,  Doctor  Starkey  withdrew,  and 
clothed  in  the  robes  of  office,  returned  and  began  the 
service.  Marjory  listened  as  in  a  dream,  moving  me 
chanically,  until  at  last  she  found  herself  on  her  knees. 


284  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

Then  all  at  once  the  tears  began  to  flow  and  she 
clutched  her  father's  sleeve.  How  many  a  wife  and 
sweetheart  throughout  the  North,  yes,  and  throughout 
the  South,  felt  the  sudden  wound  of  that  opening  gun 
on  Sumter! 

When  she  rose  she  tried  to  read  the  hymn,  but  the 
print  danced  before  her,  and  she  turned  her  face  away 
that  her  father  might  not  see  it.  Gradually,  womanlike, 
before  the  crowd,  her  control  came  back  to  her,  and  she 
grew  calm. 

They  were  home  at  last,  without  a  word  said  to  each 
other.  She  went  into  the  parlor  and  sat  a  long  while 
by  the  window,  trying  to  think.  Then  she  shook  her 
head  bravely,  and  said  to  herself  as  she  rose :  "  I  must 
be  brave.  I  must  not  let  him  see.  I  will  not  spoil  the 
beauty  of  his  day."  Minute  after  minute  crept  by  as 
she  walked  the  floor  back  and  forth  before  the  open 
windows.  All  through  the  lagging,  weary  hour  of  the 
dinner  she  sat  counting  the  time.  Even  before  she 
dared  to  hope,  she  heard  the  roll  of  wheels  on  the  drive 
way.  There  was  no  need  for  her  to  look,  she  knew 
who  was  coming.  She  sprang  up  and  ran  out  of  the 
parlor,  for  she  knew  if  they  once  saw  her  eyes  there 
would  be  no  secret  to  keep. 

As  she  came  through  the  door,  her  cheeks  flushed, 
her  eyes  shining  their  welcome,  Louisa  and  Bushrod, 
thinking  it  was  Dick,  came  piling  after,  clinging  to  her 
skirts. 

She  did  not  dare  to  look  at  him,  and  answering  his 
greeting  simply  with  a  gesture,  ran  back  into  the  house, 
to  make  ready  for  the  drive. 

"  What  a  strange  coincidence,"  said  John,  as  they  drove 
past  the  dazed  and  angry  populace  about  the  bulletin. 
"  How  strange  that  this  should  come  just  at  this  time." 


ARROWS  OF  THE   ALMIGHTY  285 

"  Oh,  hurry,  hurry ! "  she  cried,  shuddering  as  she 
spoke  ;  "  I  want  to  forget  it  all." 

The  words  were  no  sooner  said  than  she  repented  of 
them.  So,  rallying  a  little  later,  when  they  had  left  the 
city  behind,  she  took  the  reins  with  a  smile,  and  said 
archly :  "  See  what  a  tyrant  I  am.  We  are  going  to 
forget  all  about  everything  else,  and  I  am  going  to  drive 
you  into  the  country  away  from  every  one.  Oh,  John, 
how  much  I  have  to  tell  you ! " 

A  strange  shyness  came  over  them  both. 

"What  is  it?"  said  Marjory  at  last,  trying  to  fathom 
his  look. 

"Are  you  really  there,  little  one?  I  look  at  you 
and  look  at  you,  and  I  cannot  understand.  I  thought 
I  knew  you  last  night,  but  I  don't — no,  not  at  all. 
You  are  new  and  wonderful  and  strange." 

"I  will  teach  you,  John,  all  there  is  to  learn." 

"You  must,  Marjory,  or  I  shall  never  know  you." 
He  looked  down  at  her  with  an  apologetic  smile,  and 
then  added  gravely  :  "  I,  too,  am  different.  I  think  all 
that  past  —  that  old  shadow  —  has  gone  forever  now. 
You  have  revealed  me  to  myself.  Oh,  Marjory,  all 
night  long,  in  the  darkness,  I  lay  awake  thinking  such 
wonderful  thoughts,  and  at  last  I  saw  the  glorious  dawn 
come  in,  —  my  dawn,  the  dawn  of  a  happier  life." 

"  Were  you  awake  all  night  ?  Oh,  John  !  "  She  took 
his  hand,  and  her  forehead  drew  slightly.  "I  know 
what  it  must  have  been  to  you.  I  fell  asleep  almost  — 
yes,  right  away.  I  felt  so  safe,  so  sure  in  your  keeping, 
John.  It  was  the  end,  don't  you  see,  of  all  the  long 
ing  and  the  restlessness."  They  had  left  the  carriage, 
and  were  out  now  among  the  fields.  "  There,  I  must 
hold  your  hand  in  mine,  sir,  all  the  while,  even  while  I 
pick  the  flowers.  I  cannot  let  you  go  one  minute  — 


286  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

not  one."  She  glanced  up  at  him  with  roguish  happy 
eyes.  Then  she  stooped,  gathered  a  handful  of  violets, 
and  held  them  to  her  hair.  "  Do  you  like  them  ?  Blue 
is  my  color  —  did  you  know  that  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  knew  that." 

"Oh,"  you  did  ?  Now  farther  on  —  I  never  can  bear 
to  pick  all  the  flowers  in  one  spot.  I  like  to  leave  a 
few."  All  at  once  she  stopped,  dropped  his  hands,  and 
confronting  him,  cried  :  — 

"  Oh,  John,  John,  how  little  we  know  of  each  other 
yet !  There  is  so  much  here  for  you  to  learn,  day  by 
day.  But  I  will  help  you  —  yes,  John,  and  you  will 
me." 

She  made  him  sit  down  while  she  remained  at  his 
feet,  standing,  weaving  her  violets  into  a  garland.  She 
placed  them  in  her  hair,  and  glanced  down  at  him, 
laughing  over  her  shoulder. 

"  Does  it  please  you  ? " 

He  nodded,  his  eyes  following  every  graceful  girlish 
motion,  seeing  dimly  into  the  soul  that  was  his.  She 
dropped  to  her  knees,  crying  :  — 

"  Oh,  John,  no  one  shall  know  me  as  you.  I  am  such 
a  happy,  mischievous  little  spirit  at  the  bottom.  I  love 
the  hills  and  the  fields,  and  the  breezes  in  the  tops  of 
the  trees,  and  the  great  stretch  of  the  water,  and  a 
hundred  thousand  colors  in  the  sky  and  on  the  earth. 
And  no  one,  John,  has  ever  known  this.  To  think  that 
I  have  found  you  —  that  I  can  pour  out  my  soul,  and 
know  that  you  will  understand.  I  have  been  a  woman 
so  long,  I  want  to  be  a  girl,  just  for  a  little  while." 

She  suffered  him  to  draw  her  to  his  side,  and  nestled 
on  his  shoulder. 

"  Marjory,  what  a  rare  nature  you  are.  What  did  you 
see  in  me  ? " 


ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY  287 

"A  man  who  has  weathered  a  thousand  trials  and 
temptations,  and  kept  unsoiled  his  divine  nature ;  who 
is  humble  and  noble  and  true.  No,  John,  don't  say 
that—" 

They  were  quiet  for  a  while,  each  understanding  the 
other's  silent  mood. 

"Tell  me  about  yourself,"  Marjory  said  at  length; 
"  were  you  ever  —  ever  wild  ?  Oh,  it  isn't  that  I  care, 
John  —  not  that.  Oh,  don't  you  know  ?  —  it's  the  past, 
the  long  years  you've  been  away  from  me,  I  am  so 
jealous  of.  I  want  to  know  all." 

"I  have  been  wild,  Marjory,"  he  said  slowly;  "very 
wild  for  a  while.  I  gambled  and  drank  a  good  deal, 
too  much  at  times,  I  am  heartily  sorry  to  say.  That  was 
before  I  came  to  Cleveland.  It  was  a  very  black  time." 

"Don't  I  understand?  How  small  that  is."  She 
stopped,  turned  her  head  away,  crushed  the  violets  in 
her  fingers,  and  said  impulsively,  "  Oh,  John,  you  can 
tell  me  anything ;  don't  fear.  Even  our  faults  are  now 
sacred  to  us." 

"  You  mean  —  "  he  checked  himself,  then  added,  — 
"thank  God,  there  never  was  any  woman  in  my  life." 

Her  head  fell  again  on  his  shoulder,  and  she  said  very 
low  :  "  Thank  God.  I  could  have  forgiven  you  —  I 
would  have  —  without  a  thought,  if  it  had  been  differ 
ent.  But  now,  oh,  John,  you  cannot  understand  what — " 

"What,  Marjory?" 

She  shook  her  head ;  that  she  could  not  tell  him. 

That  evening,  as  Jack  was  idling  in  the  window,  look 
ing  out,  John  went  to  his  side  and  laid  his  hand  upon 
his  shoulder. 

"Jack,  I  want  you  to  be  the  first  to  know  my  happi 
ness.  I  am  going  to  marry  Marjory  Wingate." 


288  ARROWS  OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

The  other  wrung  his  hand  silently,  with  not  even  a 
start. 

"I  knew  —  I  knew.  God  bless  you,  John!  God 
bless  you ! "  he  said,  after  a  moment. 

They  stood  looking  out  into  the  street  together,  in 
the  shadowy  room. 

"There  is  no  one  like  her  in  all  the  world,  Jack." 

"  I  know  it,  John." 

"  I  tell  you,  Jack,  it  is  a  wonderful  feeling.  Please 
God,  I  will  be  worthy  of  her." 

"You  are  —  you  are,  John.  I  know  you  as  no  one 
else  can  —  not  even  she — and  I  say  you  are." 

"  Thank  you,  Jack."  A  hand  went  out  and  found 
another.  "  I  can't  tell  you  what  I  feel,  Jack.  I  am 
going  over  now  to  tell  her  father.  I  will  see  you  when 
I  come  back."  He  drew  his  arm  a  little  tighter  about 
the  little  fellow's  shoulders.  "  Dear  old  Johnnie  Gay, 
what  would  I  have  done  without  you  ? "  he  said,  and 
left. 

The  little  figure  stood  immovable  at  the  window,  star 
ing  blindly  at  a  light  twinkling  in  a  window  across  the 
way. 

"  The  friend  that  sticketh  closer  than  a  brother,"  he 
said  slowly,  aloud;  "eight  long  years,  — oh,  Jack, 
Jack ! " 

He  moved  into  his  bedroom,  closed  the  door  slowly 
behind  him,  and  then  turned  the  key. 

Comes  there  ever  a  great  joy  in  this  world  but  some 
one  must  taste  the  sorrow  of  it  ? 


CHAPTER    XXX 

THE  day  following,  President  Lincoln's  call  to  arms 
was  telegraphed  throughout  the  North.  The  country 
that  on  Sunday  had  seemed  to  toss  in  a  gigantic  night 
mare  now  rose  in  the  majesty  of  its  anger. 

The  national  flag  was  flung  to  the  breeze  from  store 
and  church,  from  private  dwelling  and  public  office. 
Every  square  became  a  drilling-ground.  Every  occupa 
tion  furnished  recruits  to  the  ranks.  Companies  sprang 
up  in  an  hour,  regiments  in  a  day.  The  call  had  been 
made  in  uncertainty  and  suspense ;  the  response  was 
electric. 

On  the  third  day  after  the  President's  proclamation, 
Senator  Wingate  called  John  into  the  library.  He  had 
seen  what  was  brewing  in  his  mind,  and  his  heart  went 
out  to  him  in  the  struggle  —  to  him  and  to  Marjory. 

"John,  I  want  a  talk  with  you.  You  are  thinking  of 
enlisting,  aren't  you  ?  " 

"Yes." 

"  You  have  not  enlisted,  have  you-?  " 

"  I  am  going  to,  this  morning." 

"  This  morning  ?  " 

"  Yes."  He  took  up  a  paper-cutter  from  the  desk, 
bending  it  in  his  fingers  until  it  threatened  to  snap.  "  I 
can  only  see  it  as  my  duty.  One  of  my  men  on  the 
wharves  came  to  me  this  morning  and  told  me  he  was 
going.  He  leaves  a  wife  and  children.  I  am  not  the 
only  one  who  leaves  all.  I  think  we  should  be  the 
leaders  at  such  a  time.  Jack  is  going." 
u  289 


29o  ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

"  You  have  said  nothing  to  Marjory  ?  " 

John  shook  his  head.     "  No,  not  yet." 

The  senator,  looking  very  grave,  took  his  seat  at  the 
desk,  drew  a  slip  of  paper  from  his  pocket,  and,  twisting 
it  in  his  fingers,  began  slowly  :  — 

"  John,  you  are  right.  We  must  be  the  leaders  in 
such  a  crisis.  I  have  already  given  my  son  Dick.  He 
joins  to-day.  And  I  say  to  you,  no  matter  what  the 
heartache,  serve  your  country.  I  am  too  old  to  stand 
a  campaign ;  but  I  shall  work  night  and  day  to  help 
prepare  the  army  —  and  that  brings  me  to  what  I 
want  to  ask  you."  He  ceased  turning  the  paper  in 
his  hand,  and  his  eyes  rested  steadily  on  the  other's 
face. 

"  John,  this  will  be  a  terrible  war  —  a  long  and  costly 
war.  Others  may  scoff.  I  am  now  undeceived.  The 
government  will  need  soldiers  in  the  field,  but,  more 
than  that,  it  must  have  men  to  protect  it  from  thieves 
and  scoundrels  at  home,  to  see  that  its  armies  are 
properly  clothed  and  fed  and  armed.  Think  of  the 
millions  to  be  spent,  carefully  and  honestly." 

He  picked  up  the  slip  and  said  abruptly  :  "  John,  I 
want  you  to  go  into  the  commissariat.  You  will  win  no 
glory,  your  work  is  not  likely  ever  to  be  known,  but 
we  must  have  honest  and  able  men  there  or  the  war  will 
fail.  I  have  been  appointed  on  the  military  board,  and  I 
want  you  to  begin  serving  under  me.  I  have  a  commis 
sion  here  in  my  hands.  If  you  accept,  you  will  at  once 
take  charge  of  the  forwarding  of  stores  and  of  the  making 
of  contracts  here  in  Cleveland.  You  will,  in  this,  be 
acting  for  the  state.  If  you  accept,  I  will  write  imme 
diately  to  Bates,  my  personal  friend,  for  a  position  in  the 
national  service.  What  do  you  say  ?  " 

John  reached  out  and  took  the  commission,  and  held 


ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY  291 

it  in  his  fingers  without  glancing  at  it,  hesitating, 
troubled. 

"  Senator,"  he  began  deliberately,  wrinkling  his  brow, 
"  you  have  not  done  this  to  keep  me  out  of  danger  ? " 

"  I  have  done  it,  John,  because  I  believe  you  are 
needed  there ;  because  there  are  high  places  in  the 
commissariat  that  need  your  executive  ability  and  your 
honesty." 

John,  not  noticing  that  the  direct  question  had  been 
evaded,  opened  the  commission,  ran  through  it,  raised 
his  head,  and  said  thoughtfully  :  — 

"  I  must  think  of  Marjory,  sir.  I  will  see  her  and 
give  you  my  answer." 

He  left  the  senator  waiting  in  the  high-backed  chair, 
and  went  undecidedly  into  the  hall,  calling,  — • 

"  Marjory  ? " 

"  Here  I  am,  John,"  a  voice  answered  from  the  parlor, 
and  Marjory,  looking  very  quiet,  came  through  the  cur 
tains.  He  handed  her  the  paper  without  a  word, 
following  her  into  the  parlor.  She  sat  down  by  the 
window  and  read  it  through,  and  laid  it  on  her  lap  and 
looked  out  into  the  garden. 

"  And  after  that  ?" 

"  After  that  the  national  commissariat." 

He  went  the  length  of  the  room,  and  then  returned 
and  took  her  hand. 

"  This  is  the  least  I  can  do.  I  thought  I  ought  to 
enlist,  but  your  father  thinks  I  can  do  more  good  here. 
We're  not  the  only  ones  who  love  in  all  this  wide  country, 
Marjory." 

She  nodded,  put  his  hand  from  her,  rose  and  stood 
at  the  window,  leaning  against  her  arm. 

"  Promise  me  one  thing,  John,"  she  said,  turning  and 
facing  him. 


292  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

"  I  promise." 

She  faltered,  and  then  said,  — 

"  That  you  will  take  me  with  you." 

"Oh,  Marjory! "  was  all  that  he  coul$  answer,  but  he 
bent  over  and  tried  to  raise  her  head. 

"  Don't,  don't ! "  she  cried,  covering  her  face  with  her 
hands. 

"Why,  Marjory!  what  have  I  done?" 

"Oh,  John,  you  know  so  little  of  women,  you  can't 
understand  how  hard  it  was  for  me  to  say  that.  Don't 
think  badly  of  me  for  asking  it." 

"  Marjory!" 

"  I  know." 

"  I  may  be  called  in  two  weeks." 

"  Whenever  you  will,"  she  answered,  and  she  suffered 
him  to  look  into  her  eyes. 

In  the  afternoon  he  went  down  and  took  charge  of 
his  new  office.  Within  a  few  hours  after  his  appoint 
ment  was  made  public,  he  was  besieged  by  a  throng  of 
bidders.  Their  greed  astounded  him.  He  saw  at  once 
that  if  he  dealt  with  them  the  state  would  be  outra 
geously  mulcted.  So,  selecting  a  number  of  trusted  men, 
he  commissioned  them  as  his  agents  to  scour  the  coun 
try.  Foreseeing  the  duration  of  the  struggle,  after  con 
sultation  with  Senator  Wingate,  he  began  the  purchase 
of  large  stores  on  every  side,  not  only  to  supply  the 
state  quota,  but  at  a  later  date  to  come  to  the  rescue  of 
the  national  service. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  third  day,  as  he  was  sitting 
in  his  office,  busied  with  telegrams  to  contracting  firms, 
he  heard  a  well-known  voice  crying  from  the  hall: 
"  Young  man,  I  guess  you'll  let  me  pass,  or  answer  to 
Mr.  Gaunt  for  your  impudence.  I  am  Sam  Blodgett, 


ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY  293 

d'ye  hear  ?  Sam  Blodgett ;  "  and  a  moment  later  a  famil 
iar  face,  framing  a  fat  cigar,  loomed  up  from  behind  the 
door. 

John  rose  with  a  smile  and  suffered  his  hand  to  be 
pumped  lustily  the  requisite  number  of  times,  while  the 
clerk,  seeing  that  everything  was  peaceful,  retired. 

"John,  I  hear  great  reports  of  you.  You're  doin' 
well." 

Blodgett,  red  and  puffing,  sank  down  into  a  seat  and 
flapped  out  his  bandanna.  "  Curse  those  stairs  !  Why 
don't  you  have  an  office  on  the  ground  floor?  Stairs'll 
be  the  death  o'  me  yet.  The  contractors  swear  you're 
a  regular  Jew  to  beat  them  down." 

"  What  do  they  call  themselves  ?  " 

"  What  ?  oh  —  ah,  yes,  ahem !  "  Blodgett  tucked  in 
the  handkerchief  around  his  collar,  and  his  snapping 
little  eyes  followed  John  curiously. 

John  finished  a  telegram,  called  a  boy,  pigeon-holed  a 
number  of  papers,  and  then  tilted  back  languidly  in  his 
chair. 

"Well,  Blodgett,  what  is  it?  I  see  you  have  some 
thing  to  sell  me." 

Blodgett  lifted  his  eyebrow  and  said  cautiously,  "  I 
didn't  say  so." 

"  No,  but  you  look  it." 

The  other  laughed.     "  Well,  yes,  I  have." 

"  What  is  it  ? " 

"  Fifty  thousand  round  of  ammunition." 

John  drew  out  a  pad  and  jotted  down  the  figures. 

"  What  firm  ?  " 

Blodgett  closed  his  eyes  and  smiled  contentedly. 

"Very  well,  that  ends  it.  I  must  know  with  whom 
I'm  dealing." 

"  Smithson  Brothers,  then." 


294  ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

"  The  firm  is  good.     What  else  have  you  ? " 

"  Twenty  thousand  rations  and  a  hundred  head  of 
mules." 

"  And  the  price  on  the  whole  ? " 

Blodgett  mentioned  a  sum. 

"You  will  have  to  come  down  two  thousand."  John 
pushed  back  his  chair  decisively,  and  rose. 

"  Now  look  here,  John,  I've  asked  you  a  square  fig 
ure.  It's  high,  and  I'll  make  a  pile  on  it,  I  don't  deny 
it.  But  it  ain't  what  I  can  get  on  it  at  Indianapolis  or 
Chicago,  and  you  know  it.  I  give  you  the  chance, 
because  I  know  your  huntin'  high  and  low  for  just  them 
things.  See  here,  John,  hang  it  all,  you  don't  seem  to 
see  I'm  doin'  you  a  favor." 

"  Blodgett,  I  want  you  to  know  two  things :  first,  you 
are  not  going  out  of  this  room  without  selling  me  those 
options ;  second,  you've  got  to  sell  them  at  my  figures. 
At  that  you  make  a  tremendous  profit." 

"  I'm  not  sellin'  to  you ;  the  state  can  pay." 

"  You  are  selling  them  to  me.  My  honor  and  my  abil 
ity  are  at  stake.  I  need  them  for  the  regiments  of  this 
state  —  for  the  brigade  your  son  and  my  friends  are 
marching  in  ;  and  I  will  not  take  them  at  your  figure." 

"  See  here,  I've  come  down  once,  I  told  you,"  he  said, 
flicking  his  cigar  coolly,  "  I  won't  again  ;  that's  flat !  " 

John  knew  his  customer  too  well  to  waste  further 
words.  .He  hesitated  a  moment,  and  then  with  a  sudden 
impulse  he  walked  to  the  desk  and  drew  a  check  for  the 
amount. 

"  There,  I  take  those  options.  Here  is  your  check. 
Make  me  out  a  receipt  in  full." 

He  rang  the  bell,  wrote  out  three  telegrams,  and  when 
the  receipt  was  signed,  passed  them  over  to  Blodgett. 

"  Look  these  over.     Order  to  Smith  son  Brothers  to 


ARROWS   OF   THE   ALMIGHTY  295 

forward  ammunition  on  instant  of  receiving  ;  also  orders 
for  rations  and  mules.  I  have  signed  your  name.  Will 
you  direct  them  to  your  confidential  agents  ?  So  —  thank 
you." 

The  boy  took  the  telegrams  and  departed.  Blodgett 
looked  the  check  over,  scratched  his  head,  clucked  loudly 
to  himself,  thrust  his  hand  in  his  pocket,  and  glanced 
over  curiously  at  John,  who  was  still  busied  with  his 
check-book. 

"  What  you  doin'  there  ?  " 

"  Do  you  want  to  know  ?  " 

"Oh,  I'm  curious." 

"  Well,  making  out  a  check." 

"To  who?" 

"  To  the  —  state  —  of  —  Ohio  (there !)  for  two  — 
thousand  —  dollars." 

Blodgett  rose  and  grasped  him  by  the  shoulders. 
"  Look  here,  John,  what  do  you  mean  by  that  ?  " 

"  This  :  as  you  won't  sell  those  options  to  the  army  — 
the  army  your  son  is  going  to  fight  in  —  at  fair  figures, 
why,  the  difference  goes  out  of  my  pocket.  For  milk 
the  government  I  will  not  see  any  man  do !  " 

"  John,  you  didn't  dare  tell  me  that  before  !  " 

It  was  John's  turn  to  flick  his  cigar. 

"  You  waited  till  you  got  them  options  in  your  hand." 

"  I  did." 

"And  you  made  me  send  them  orders;  for  you 
knowed,  as  sure  as  your  mortal'  soul,  I  wouldn't  sell  you 
on  no  such  terms.  You've  beat  me,  John,  but  I  don't 
consider  you've  done  it  square.  John,  on  your  honor, 
now,  are  you  in  earnest  ?  " 

"  I  am." 

"  And  you'll  pay  that  out  of  your  own  pocket  ? " 

"  I  will." 


296  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

"  Hell,  then !  "  He  picked  up  the  check  which  John 
had  just  blotted,  held  it  a  moment  beside  the  other,  then 
shutting  his  teeth  with  a  snap,  tore  both  in  two,  mutter 
ing,  "  Now  make  it  over,  and  make  it  right !  " 

That  night  when  John  returned  to  his  room  he  said  to 
Jack :  "  The  orders  are  out.  The  regiments  go  to-morrow. 
I  feel  as  though  I  ought  to  be  going  with  you." 

"To-morrow  ?  "  Jack  drew  a  long  breath.  "  I'm  glad 
it's  come."  He  glanced  about  the  room,  now  barren  of 
pets.  "  I've  disposed  of  the  menagerie  to-day,  all  but 
Rags,  who  is  going  as  the  daughter  of  the  regiment, 
aren't  you,  Rags,  you  old  tramp  ?  Everything  is  packed, 
and  Jack  is  ready,  and  he'll  march  away  at  the  break  of 
day,  eh,  John  ?  I'm  glad  I've  no  women  to  weep  for  me." 

"  Don't,  Jack!  "  John  broke  in  solemnly. 

"The  boys  think  it's  only  a  big  parade  —  so  why 
shouldn't  I  ? " 

John  shook  his  head. 

"  Come,  John,  no  more  nonsense !  "  said  Jack,  abruptly. 
"  I  want  to  talk  with  you,"  and  they  sat  down,  conversing 
far  into  the  night,  in  the  old  frank  way.  Once  started, 
he  unbosomed  himself  as  he  had  not  done  in  years, 
spoke  gravely  of  the  risks  ahead  of  him,  and  said :  — 

"  I  tell  you,  John,  it  makes  a  man  feel  very  solemn 
when  he  realizes,  that  some  day,  in  a  second,  he  may 
stand  in  the  presence  of  his  Maker.  I  hope  much  will 
be  forgiven  me,  and  I  hope  if  it  shall  be  my  lot  to  die, 
that  I  will  go  out  like  a  brave  man."  He  stopped,  looked 
for  a  moment  into  the  sad  face  of  his  friend,  and  added 
with  hesitation  "  I  told  you  I  would  give  you  my  reason 
some  day  for  withholding  my  confidence.  It  hurt  you, 
didn't  it  ? " 

John  nodded. 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  297 

"  Well,  I  could  have  told  you,  John ;  I  wouldn't  mind 
your  knowing."  Then  he  shook  his  head  and  said 
quickly,  "  But  what's  yours  now  is  another's." 

" Jack !  " 

"  No,  no  !  you  will  tell  her  everything.  If  you  don't, 
you  ought  to.  Don't  withhold  anything  from  her.  It 
is  the  only  way,  the  true  way,  and  that's  why — don't 
you  see  ? "  he  ended  incoherently,  with  the  peculiar 
smile  that  always  struggled  to  his  face  when  he  was 
trying  to  break  through  a  cloud. 

'  John  looked  at  him  sadly.  It  brought  a  pang  to  his 
heart  to  think  that  his  own  happiness  had  raised  a  bar 
rier  between  them.  Never  before  had  he  felt  so  keenly 
the  beauty  of  their  friendship. 

"Come,  old  fellow,  off  to  bed,  it's  nearly  two,"  he 
said  at  length,  starting  up.  "  You  must  get  some  sleep 
for  to-morrow." 

A  little  later,  when  Jack  was  under  covers,  John  came 
and  playfully  tucked  him  in,  crying :  "  There,  little 
Johnnie  Gay,  off  to  sleep  with  you,  you  rascal.  I  am 
going  to  give  you  some  money  to  carry  for  me,  in  case 
Dick  should  ever  need  anything  —  or  you."  Then,  as 
he  closed  the  door,  he  came  face  to  face  with  the  blue 
uniform,  and  the  knapsack  lying  open  on  the  lounge. 

In  the  middle  of  the  day  the  regiment  mustered  for 
the  long,  long  march.  The  companies  drew  up  above 
the  square,  on  Superior  Street,  between  Trinity  and  the 
stone  clock  tower  of  the  second  Presbyterian  church. 
John,  arm  in  arm  with  Jack,  Rags  dodging  at  their 
heels,  passed  up  the  blocked  thoroughfare  beyond  the 
rapidly  forming  Grays  to  where,  near  the  piles  of  a 
lumberyard  swarming  with  boys,  showed  the  blue  uni 
forms  and  the  shining  rifles  of  the  Life  Guards. 


298  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

Fathers,  mothers,  wives,  sweethearts,  children,  and 
friends  were  thronging  the  ranks,  saying  the  last  good- 
bys.  The  two  friends  brushed  past  sobbing  women, 
and  stopped  at  every  rank  to  answer  the  greeting  of  an 
acquaintance.  Children  were  scampering  among  the 
disordered  companies,  playing  tag  through  the  files. 
Men  were  calling  to  each  other  over  the  heads  of  the 
crowd,  in  bluff  good  humor.  Above  all  the  rout  the 
drums  and  the  fifes  were  practising  the  "  Star-Spangled 
Banner."  There  was  Dick,  laughing,  the  senator  solemn 
and  determined,  and  the  mother  white  and  haggard. 
John  drew  his  friend  aside  from  the  crowd,  and  linking 
arms,  they  walked  up  and  down  in  the  privacy  of  the 
saddened  multitude  that  choked  the  flag-lined  street. 
John  with  his  head  down  was  talking  earnestly,  when 
the  bugles  blew  the  summons  to  the  ranks. 

"  Good-by,  old  friend." 

"Good-by." 

Jack  held  him  a  moment  tight  in  his  arms,  gripped 
his  hand,  looked  into  the  whites  of  his  eyes,  then 
stepped  into  the  ranks.  The  next  instant  the  fifes  and 
drums  struck  up,  and  the  company  swung  off  down  the 
street. 

John  went  hurriedly  across  the  square,  running 
through  the  crowd,  on  down  Superior  Street  to  the 
corner  of  Seneca,  and  up  into  a  store,  where  on  the  bal 
cony  he  found  Marjory.  ,  Side  by  side,  with  thrilling 
hearts,  they  stood  looking  over  the  swarming  streets, 
up  over  the  public  square,  where  just  a  patch  of  green 
showed  through  the  massing  crowds,  beyond  to  a  block 
of  gray,  and  then  a  block  of  blue. 

"  They  started  as  I  left,  I  don't  know  why  they've 
halted,"  he  whispered.  "They'll  be  coming  soon." 

"They  don't  realize,  do  they?"  she  said,  looking  up 


ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY  299 

and  down  over  the  sea  of  flags  and  the  windows  gay 
with  spectators. 

He  shook  his  head. 

"There,  look  — look!" 

At  last  there  had  come  a  slight  bend  in  the  crowds. 
The  street,  a  moment  choked  with  humanity,  rapidly 
widened  from  a  thin  stream  into  an  open  space. 

"  See,  Marjory,  there  they  come!  " 

The  flags  began  to  wave,  the  handkerchiefs  to  flutter, 
as  over  the  heads  of  the  crowd  far  up  Superior  Street 
came  the  crash  of  the  Grays'  band.  The  escort  of  citi 
zens  came  into  view,  stepping  quickly,  Mayor  Chapin 
leading  the  way,  and  behind  him  the  backbone  of  Cleve 
land  loyalty. 

John  leaned  over  to  Marjory  and  pointed  out  the 
tall  Indian-like  figure  of  the  senator  glancing  up  at 
them.  They  waved  down  to  him,  and  the  next  moment 
he  was  past,  and  the  air  was  swelling  with  the  thunder 
of  martial  music. 

"  Jerry  Ensworth  and  the  Grays,"  announced  John,  and 
as  the  familiar  company  and  its  captain  came  by,  he 
scanned  the  well-known  ranks  and  named  a  score  of  men. 

The  colors  were  fluttering,  the  band  was  playing, 
every  one  was  cheering  and  applauding  as  the  gray  files 
passed,  and  the  street  was  filled  with  blue. 

There  was  Captain  Junie  Sanford,  and  young  Blod- 
gett  and  Dick  —  and  there  at  last  in  the  long  line  was 
Jack.  John  took  out  his  handkerchief  and  waved  it 
high,  his  voice  choking,  when  all  at  once  Jack  saw  him, 
and  lifted  his  hat.  John  looked  down  into  the  pale 
upturned  face  for  one  vast  second.  The  next  he  was 
gone,  an  individual  no  longer,  only  a  spot  of  blue  in  the 
advancing,  inexorable  line.  John  drew  back,  seeing  no 
more  what  was  passing  below,  straining  his  eyes  after 


300  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

the  familiar  little  figure.  Soon  he  could  only  tell  where 
he  must  be  by  the  flag  that  hovered  over  the  blur  of 
blue,  steady  and  distinct.  Then,  as  the  regiment 
wheeled  around  a  distant  corner,  even  that  was  lost. 
He  drew  back,  and  suddenly  something  clutched  his 
wrist,  and  Marjory  fell  in  a  faint  against  his  shoulder. 

Two  weeks  later  the  senator  handed  him  his  com 
mission. 

"  Captain  Gaunt,  you  are  assigned  to  New  York  for 
orders.  You  leave  in  four  days." 

"  I  am  ready,"  said  John,  simply,  and  he  looked  at 
Marjory. 

She  answered  his  silent  question  with  a  brave  nod. 

"  I  will  be  ready,  John." 

"Jack  is  gone,  and  Dick  is  gone,  there  will  be  none 
to  stand  with  me.  Can  you  be  ready  so  soon  ? "  he  said. 

"  I  will  come  to  you  just  as  I  am.  It  is  no  time  to 
think  of  wedding  outfits.  Oh,  John !  "  The  father  had 
gone  out ;  they  stood  there  looking  at  each  other. 

And  so  in  the  quiet  of  Trinity  they  were  married, 
while  outside  the  street  was  noisy  with  preparations 
for  war.  As  they  came  down  the  church  steps,  a 
company  was  defiling  at  the  very  door. 

The  train  on  which  they  left  was  laden  with  stores,  and 
packed  with  officers,  soldiers,  recruits,  hurrying  to  the 
defence  of  Washington.  The  old  wooden  station  was 
surging  with  masses  of  friends  shouting  good-by,  weep 
ing,  cheering,  and  singing  the  "  Star-Spangled  Banner." 
One  face  alone  they  saw  amid  the  flurry  of  handker 
chief,  flag,  and  hat,  towering  above  all  the  rest,  kind 
and  wrinkled,  a  face  like  that  of  the  great  leader  who 
sat  in  the  White  House  and  held  the  destiny  of  the 
Union.  John  and  Marjory  stood  on  the  crowded  plat- 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  301 

form  of  the  last  car  as  the  train  pulled  slowly  out,  and 
gazed  back,  as  long  as  their  eyes  could  distinguish,  at 
the  tall  figure,  who  had  knotted  his  handkerchief  to  his 
cane,  and  was  waving  it  back  and  forth  slowly,  in  wide 
swaths  high  above  the  fluttering  crowd.  Then  they 
returned  into  the  jammed,  ill-smelling  car,  hot  and 
noisy,  that  ran  on  and  on,  ever  with  ringing  bells, 
through  the  turbulent  multitudes  that  lined  the  rail 
way,  on  and  on,  racing  toward  the  front.  And  this 
was  their  wedding  journey. 


CHAPTER   XXXI 

THERE  were  stormy  days  in  the  Department  of  Subsist 
ence  at  Baltimore  in  February  of  1864.  The  Baltimore 
that  had  stoned  the  Sixth  Massachusetts  had  become 

0 

the  Baltimore  of  the  contractors.  They  had  swarmed 
into  the  city,  set  up  their  establishments,  besieged  the 
underlings,  and  slowly  won  their  way,  step  by  step,  by 
judicious  "favors,"  toward  the  main  office.  Corrup 
tion  went  brazenly  through  the  streets  unmasked.  The 
clerks  in  the  lower  departments  used  to  nudge  one  an 
other  and  exchange  glances  whenever  one  of  these  bluff 
suppliers  of  the  army's  needs  stamped  through  the  room, 
in  a  pleased-with-all-the-world  mood,  nodding  right  and 
left,  on  his  way  to  the  executive  desk.  They  knew  to 
a  figure  what  Schneider  had  cleared  on  the  last  pork 
bid,  who  were  in  receipt  of  little  favors  from  Crafts, 
how  Honey  man  Brothers  had  got  the  last  contract  for 
flour,  or  for  that  instalment  of  shoes  that  had  drawn 
such  a  slashing  rebuke  from  the  "  Old  Man "  at  the 
front. 

But  a  day  of  reckoning  had  come  at  last.  The  new 
head  had  now  been  in  command  for  over  a  month,  and 
great  had  been  the  havoc ;  the  sword  of  suspicion  had 
fallen  among  high  and  low  alike.  Already  two  officers 
had  peremptorily  been  transferred  to  the  field,  and 
there  were  whispers  each  morning  of  investigations,  of 
sharp  rebukes,  and  of  overhaulings  of  accounts.  Many 
an  official  started  nervously,  amid  general  consterna- 

302 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  303 

tion,  whenever  Stimson's  bland  little  face  was  seen 
peering  through  the  door,  and  a  sharp  voice  called 
Mr, to  the  office. 

Intense  was  the  excitement,  therefore,  one  afternoon 
when,  in  the  midst  of  the  monotonous  scratching  of  the 
pens,  the  hall  door  was  flung  violently  open  and  an 
angry  personage  bursting  in,  demanded  in  an  avalanche 

of  oaths,  who  in was  in  charge,  and  show  him  up 

mighty quick ! 

A  delighted  whisper  ran  about  the  desks,  that  Governor 
Slade  of  a  neighboring  state  had  come  to  ask  explana 
tions  of  the  colonel. 

"  This  way,  this  way,  sir,"  a  clerk  cried,  springing  up 
with  alacrity.  "  Follow  me,  sir.  Don't  know's  though 
the  colonel'll  see  you.  Here's  the  orderly." 

"  Damn  the  orderly !  Get  out  of  my  way !  Do  you 
know  who  I  am  ?  I'm  Governor  Slade,  Slade,  Slade  — 
d'you  hear?  "  And  breaking  past  the  astounded  orderly 
he  bustled  into  the  room,  crying  furiously :  "  Here ! 
Who's  in  charge  here  !  I'm  Governor  Slade! " 

Two  figures  were  seated  at  a  desk  in  the  back  of  the 
room,  —  a  bland,  red-haired  little  man  who  stared  up  in 
astonishment  at  this  sudden  cyclone,  and  an  officer  of 
great  breadth  of  shoulders  and  determined  eyes,  who 
rose  to  his  full  height  and  answered  grimly  :  — 

"  I  command  here  —  Colonel  Gaunt." 

"  Oh,  a  dashed,  dashed  boy,"  sneered  the  other,  halt 
ing  at  his  youthful  appearance.  "  I  might  have  guessed 
it.  What  I  want  to  know  from  you  is,  what  in  the 
eternal  hell,  sir,  you  mean  by  countermanding  my 

orders  ?  Who  in are  you,  to  challenge  my 

authority  ?  What  in  the  — " 

"  Stop !  "  came  the  colonel's  voice,  like  a  clap  of  thun 
der,  with  a  blow  that  shook  the  desk  and  brought  the 


304  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

outer  office  crowding  to  the  door.  "  Stop  !  Who  are  you  ? 
Who  are  you  to  defy  the  authority  of  the  government 
of  the  United  States,  which  I  represent  ?  Governor  or 
no  governor  —  I  don't  care  a  damn !  My  orders  shall 
be  carried  out  to  the  letter,  d'you  hear?  Not  another 
word.  Yes,  I  know  you  !  and  I  know  what  you've  been 
doing,  and  it  is  to  stop  your  blackmailing  and  rascality 
that  my  orders  were  issued.  I  dare  you  to  resist  them  ! 
Do  so,  and  in  twenty-four  hours  I'll  make  public  some 
thing  that'll  send  you  to  jail  as  quick  as  we  can  lay  our 
hands  on  you.  You  dare  to  call  me  to  account?"  He 
brought  his  fist  down  on  the  desk  with  another  crash. 
"  I  won't  have  another  word  from  you.  Get  out  of  this 
room,  sir,  —  get  out  —  get  out ! " 

The  fire-eater  was  quite  overwhelmed.  He  glanced 
about  wildly  for  a  door,  gave  Gaunt  an  ugly  look,  cried, 
"  You  shall  hear  from  me  yet,  you  damned  little  clerk," 
flung  open  the  door,  boiling  with  defeat  and  rage,  caught 
his  foot  and  went  tumbling  headlong  into  the  crowd 
of  eavesdroppers.  Then,  amid  a  titter  of  laughter,  he 
picked  himself  up,  swearing  at  one  and  all,  bumped  into 
a  clerk,  grabbed  him  by  the  shoulder,  flung  him  aside, 
and  went  out  slamming  the  doors  behind  him. 

"  Better  look  out,  Colonel,"  Stimson  spoke  up,  as  the 
sounds  of  the  departure  died  out,  and  the  shuffling  of 
the  clerks  was  heard  returning  to  their  desks ;  "  you're 
not  through  with  him  yet,  as  he  says.  He'll  send  up  a 
pack  of  lies  to  the  War  Department.  Better  get  ahead 
of  him." 

"Well,  Sergeant,  I  reckon  you're  right.  We'll  do  it," 
said  John.  His  face  was  still  flushed  with  the  heat  of 
his  sudden  anger.  He  walked  the  floor  a  moment,  rally 
ing  himself,  and  then  dropped  into  his  chair  with  a 
laugh.  "  Sergeant,  you'd  better  keep  a  pitcher  of  ice 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  305 

water  handy,  if  we're  going  to  get  many  more  like  that. 
Did  you  see  those  clerks  listening  in  the  hall  ? " 

"I  —  really  —  were  they  there ? "  Stimson  responded, 
wondering  if  another  storm  was  brewing. 

"  I  reckon,  by  rights,  I  should  call  them  up  and  give 
them  a  good  dressing  down  —  pretty  flagrant  breach  of 
discipline,  that.  But — well,  Sergeant,  we'll  overlook  it 
this  time,  considering  it  may  do  them  good." 

Stimson  laughed  outright  at  the  turn,  and  said : 
"Colonel,  I  guess  you  hit  it  that  time  —  it  will  make 
them  stand  around  a  little  livelier,"  and  he  proceeded 
to  take  down  the  letter  to  the  Secretary  of  War. 

As  John  was  signing  it,  a  card  came  to  him  from  a 
contractor.  He  turned  it  over  and  back,  thinking  the 
name  was  familiar. 

"John  R.  Kane  —  oh,  yes;  I  remember.  Stimson, 
what  do  you  know  about  John  R.  Kane  ? " 

"  Had  big  contracts  here,  Colonel." 

"  Is  he  honest  ? " 

"  He  is  a  contractor." 

"  Humph  !  I  see.     Well,  I'll  see  him  now," 

Stimson  started  to  the  door. 

"Wait  a  moment."  John  asked  suddenly,  "Who  is 
delivering  that  hay  contract  we're  weighing  down  at 
the  depot  ?  Isn't  that  Kane  ?  " 

"John  R.  Kane;  yes,  sir." 

"Very  well;  call  him  in." 

He  reached  into  a  pigeon-hole  and  took  down  the 
memorandum  of  the  hay  contract  and  was  studying  it 
thoughtfully  when  a  snappy  little  man,  with  a  pock 
marked  skin,  loose  under  the  eyes,  came  in,  stepped 
rapidly  up  to  the  desk,  removed  his  cigar,  and  exclaimed 
as  he  shook  hands :  — 

"  Colonel,  we  meet  again." 
x 


306  ARROWS   OF   THE   ALMIGHTY 

"  Ah,  Kane,  how  are  you  ?     You  call  on  business  ? " 

"  Oh,  no ;  not  exactly.  Been  out  West  for  a  couple 
of  months;  dropped  in  to  renew  the  acquaintance  — 
there  you  are.  Guess  you  bear  me  no  grudge  for  put 
ting  an  extra  five  thousand  in  your  pocket  on  that 
wharf  business  ;  eh,  Colonel  ? " 

"  None  at  all." 

The  visitor  took  off  his  overcoat,  folded  it  up,  placed 
it  on  a  table,  his  hat  on  top,  selected  a  chair,  fingered 
the  diamond  in  his  shirt  front,  and  said,  "  How  d'ye 
like  it  here?" 

"Oh,  I  like  it  well  enough,"  John  said,  drawling. 
"  I'm  trying  to  get  on  to  the  ropes.  You  seem  to  have 
been  the  favored  contractor,  Kane." 

"  I  admit  it.  Expect  to  be  this  time.  There's  frank 
ness  for  you.  I  guess  I  can  please  you,"  he  bent 
over,  flicked  his  cigar,  and  closed  the  farther  eye  mean 
ingly,  "in — in  every  way.  Well,  now,  Colonel,  suppose 
we  talk  business.  You  see  I  know  your  ways,  I'm 
coming  to  the  point." 

"  Agreed,"  answered  John,  with  a  half  smile.  "  I 
didn't  really  flatter  myself  it  was  simply  to  renew  the 
acquaintance  that  you  came." 

"  Eh  ?  What  ?  You're  a  sharp  one,  I  see ;  same  as 
ever,  eh,  Colonel?"  Kane  responded,  with  the  utmost 
good  humor.  "  Now,  to  the  point.  I'm  interested  in 
this  contracting,  as  you  say.  I've  done  some  pretty 
heavy  work  for  the  government,  and  I'm  looking  for 
future  favors.  That's  about  it,  Colonel,  and  I  hope 
we'll  come  to  a  good  understanding." 

"  So  you  want  more  contracts,  then.  Brought  your 
figures  on  the  new  bids  I  put  out  ?  " 

"  That's  why  I'm  here."  Kane  sprang  up,  drew  out 
his  pocketbook,  and  selected  three  slips.  "That's  on 


ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY  307 

the  uniforms,  that's  on  the  pork,  and  that's  on  the 
flour.  I  guess  I  don't  need  to  take  the  oath  of  alle 
giance  again,  eh  ? "  Then  he  added,  reluctantly :  "  See 
here  now,  Colonel,  I'd  rather  hold  on  to  them  awhile, 
until  them  other  bids  are  in ;  you  know,  I  might  want 
to  scale  the  figures  down  a  bit.  That's  where  a  little 
understanding  could  come  in." 

"The  bids  are  in  —  the  contracts  go  out  to-night," 
answered  John,  ignoring  the  insinuation.  "  It  is  almost 
three  now ;  you  have  two  minutes  to  get  them  in." 

Kane  ran  through  them  again,  turned  them  over,  laid 
them  gingerly  on  the  desk,  and  withdrew  a  step  to  watch 
the  effect. 

John  read  them  through  without  a  sign  of  interest. 
When  he  had  quite  finished,  he  laid  them  down,  and 
said  coldly,  "  Mr.  Kane,  your  figures  are  exorbitant ; 
you  stand  no  show  whatever  for  the  contracts." 

"  Now,  Colonel,  see  here,"  Kane  laughed  back,  throw 
ing  open  his  coat  and  dangling  his  fob;  "you  beat  me 
once  at  Cleveland,  but  it  won't  go  again.  And  I  don't 
mind  telling  you  I  know  every  figure  on  those  other 
bids  right  there  in  that  pigeon-hole,  and  there  ain't  one 
under  mine.  No,  Colonel,  it  won't  go.  Come  to  busi 
ness  now." 

"Well,  Mr.  Kane,  your  information  is  not  correct, 
however  obtained.  Here's  one  bid  —  T.  K.  Bellews  — 
right  at  hand,  that  discounts  you." 

"  He  can't  do  it !  Colonel,  take  my  word,  I'm  honest, 
I'm  not  lying  to  you  —  he  can't  do  it !  It  ain't  an  honest 
bid.  He'll  skin  you  on  the  quantity,  he'll  put  false 
bottoms  in,  or  load  up  with  rocks  or  sand.  Don't  you 
take  it ;  don't  have  anything  to  do  with  him.  He'll  milk 
you  to  the  last  cent  —  he'll  cheat  you  on  every  turn." 

"  I  have  reason  to  think  otherwise,"  said  John,  who 


3o8  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

indeed  had  good  reasons.  "  No,  frankly,  Kane,  you're 
out  of  the  race." 

"  Very  well,  I'll  come  down ;  here,  give  me  those 
bids."  He  took  a  pencil  and  made  the  correction 
rapidly.  "  There,  ten  thousand  off.  That's  the  best  I 
can  do  ;  experience  and  quality  has  got  to  count  some 
thing." 

John  shook  his  head.     "The  bids  closed  at  three." 

"  I  see  you  want  me  to  come  down  to  the  point,"  said 
Kane  with  a  wink,  misconstruing  the  refusals ;  "  to  that 
little  understanding,  eh  ?  " 

"  Do  you  mean  to  bribe  me,  sir  ?  "  exclaimed  John  in 
a  loud  voice. 

Kane  glanced  back  suspiciously,  and  answered  still 
louder,  "  No,  sir,  I  refuse  to  bribe  you !  "  He  took  a 
quick  survey  of  the  room  and  stole  to  the  door,  opening 
it  sharply.  John,  at  the  desk,  shook  with  laughter  at 
his  sudden  alarm. 

"  Colonel,"  the  other  said,  grinning  in  appreciation  as 
he  returned,  "  I  was  afraid  you  wasn't  dealing  square 
with  me.  We'll  suppose  it's  this  way,"  he  added,  sink 
ing  his  voice,  "  supposing  I  get  the  contracts.  Now, 
just  out  of  gratitude,  I'd  feel  like  giving  something,  say 
five  or  six  thousand,  say  —  well  —  to  the  hospitals.  I'll 
leave  it  right  here  in  this  drawer,  put  it  into  your  hands 
to  use.  Well,  that  way,  or  any  other  way  suits  you 
better.  Are  you  on  ? " 

"  In  plain  words,  you'll  give  me  five  thousand  dollars 
to  throw  the  contracts  into  your  hands." 

"  I  never  said  that,  I  never  said  that !  But,  after  all, 
what's  the  use  of  being  squeamish  now  ?  You're  going 
to  give  the  contracts  to  some  one,  ain't  you  ?  Well, 
make  up  your  mind,  and  then  get  something  for  your 
self.  It  won't  have  influenced  your  decision,  will  it  ? 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  309 

Lord  bless  you,  Colonel,  you're  new  here ;  why,  they 
expect  it.  Government  can't  afford  to  pay  you  what 
you're  worth,  so  they  let  you  make  it  up  in  this  way. 
Now  I  ain't  asking  you  to  take  anything  to  give  me  the 
contracts,  but  if  you  should  send  them  this  way,  I  want 
you  to  know  I  ain't  a  mean  man,  I'll  be  grateful  —  d'ye 
catch  my  meaning  ? " 

"There's  not  much  doubt  as  to  your  meaning,  Mr. 
Kane,"  John  said  grimly.  He  had  been  studying  the 
hay  contract,  wondering  where  was  the  flaw,  for  the 
figures  were  exceedingly  low,  and  he  knew  the  man  for 
a  trickster,  so  he  said,  "  By  the  way,  this  hay  contract 
we're  receiving  to-day  belongs  to  you,  doesn't  it  ? " 

"Correct — John  R.  Kane;  I'm  the  man." 

"  Humph  !  You  made  good  figures  there,  Kane !  I'm 
surprised  to  see  them  so  low.  How  did  you  do  it  ? " 

"I  think  I  know  my  business  —  yes,  thank  you,"  said 
Kane,  leaning  back.  "Any  complaint  against  them 
figures  ? " 

"  Certainly  not ;  what  I  complain  of  is  that  your  other 
bids  are  not  on  the  same  basis." 

"Couldn't  repeat  that,  Colonel.  There  were  outside 
reasons  in  that  —  too  cheap  —  nothing  in  it." 

John  had  been  following  his  man  closely,  and  the 
belief  strengthened  in  him  that  there  was  some  trickery 
in  the  transaction.  He  rose  abruptly  and  said,  "  Kane, 
I'm  going  down  to  look  over  that  order  of  yours." 

"  That's  the  ticket,"  responded  the  contractor,  to  his 
surprise,  jumping  up.  "  Satisfy  yourself ;  Colonel,  I 
guess  that's  the  way  to  convince  a  man.  I'll  go  with 
you." 

Without  further  words  they  went  across  to  the  store 
houses,  in  and  out  among  drays  and  clamoring  drivers, 
mules,  rubbish,  barrels,  and  crates.  A  few  men  who 


3io  ARROWS  OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

recognized  John  saluted  respectfully.  Kane  had  a  nod 
and  a  smile  for  every  one ;  he  knew  them  all,  from  the 
superintendent  to  the  lowest  carrier.  A  sergeant  ad 
vancing,  John  hailed  him,  and  ordered  him  to  lead  the 
way  to  the  hay  shipment. 

"  How  much  have  you  done  of  it,  Tim  —  goes  hard, 
eh  ? "  asked  Kane.  He  knew  him,  too. 

"  Pretty  hard,  Mr.  Kane ;  we're  'bout  half  through  it, 
sir,  I  should  say.  This  way,  please." 

"  Oh,  here  we  are  at  last,"  Kane  broke  out,  again 
nodding  to  half  a  dozen  men.  They  were  under  the 
roof  of  the  great  warehouse,  standing  beside  the  scales. 
Through  an  open  door  to  the  left  great  bales  of  hay 
were  being  lugged  in  from  a  train  of  cars,  cast  on  the 
scales,  weighed  and  ranged  in  stacks  to  the  right,  ready 
for  shipment.  Near  them  an  under-officer  was  check 
ing  off  the  weights  and  writing  the  account  in  a  note 
book.  John  examined  a  number  of  bales  carefully ; 
the  hay  was  everywhere  of  satisfactory  quality. 

"  Look  it  over,  look  it  over,  Colonel,"  Kane  ex 
claimed,  plucking  out  handfuls  here  and  there. 
"There's  nothing  to  hide  here.  That  hay,  sir,  is  like 
Caesar's  wife  —  you  know  the  reference  —  above  sus 
picion." 

There  seemed  to  be  no  fair  ground  of  complaint. 
John,  doubting  and  puzzled,  wandered  from  one  group 
to  another,  seeking  the  explanation.  At  one  time  he 
stopped  before  the  open  door  where  a  car  was  being 
unloaded.  A  sweltering  Irishman,  cursing  and  protest 
ing  under  his  burden,  caught  his  eye,  and  just  as  he  was 
puffing  past,  John  stopped  him  with  the  remark,  — 

"  Well,  my  man,  you  look  rather  tired." 

"You  may  well  say  so,  sor-r.  The  domnedest  heaviest 
hay  I  ever  carried,  sor-r," 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  311 

Like  a  flash  the  memory  of  Kane's  insinuations  came 
back  to  him.  If  a  barrel  of  flour  could  be  loaded  with 
stones,  why  not  a  bundle  of  hay  ?  Without  a  word  he 
followed  the  man  to  the  scales,  and,  as  he  was  about 
to  cast  it  on,  prevented  him. 

"  Stop  !  Throw  that  down.  Sergeant,  open  that  bale 
of  hay." 

The  next  moment  Kane  had  flung  himself  in  front, 
crying,  "  Colonel  Gaunt,  I  protest.  You  have  no  right, 
sir." 

"  Protest  at  what  ? "  said  John,  sternly.  "  Stand  back. 
Open  that  bale." 

The  sergeant  bent  quickly  to  his  task.  The  bale  was 
broken,  the  hay  fell  apart,  and  disclosed  to  the  view  of 
all  four  six-inch  logs. 

"  Colonel,  I  swear  before  God  I  didn't  know  it,"  Kane 
cried,  darting  forward.  "  I'm  innocent,  I  swear  I'm  in 
nocent!  " 

"  Stand  back !  Sergeant,  open  that  bale  and  the 
next."  Two  more  bales  were  cut,  with  the  same  re 
sults.  The  swindle  was  apparent  to  all. 

"Sergeant,  four  men  and  a  corporal!  Mr.  Kane, 
consider  yourself  under  arrest.  Sergeant,  I  shall  hold 
you  as  a  witness  that  this  man  protested  against  my 
opening  the  bales." 

Kane,  white  and  struck  with  terror,  stepped  forward 
and  whispered :  "  You've  got  me,  Colonel.  For  God's 
sake,  don't  prosecute  me.  I've  got  a  wife  and  children. 
I'll  make  it  up,  every  cent  of  it,  I  swear  I  will.  I  swear 
on  my  honor." 

"  On  your  what  ? "  said  John,  abruptly.  "  Step  back. 
There  isn't  a  power  on  earth  can  keep  you  out  of  prison 
now." 

"  Twenty  thousand,  if  you'll  let  me  go,"  insisted  Kane. 


312  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

He  clutched  him  by  the  sleeve.  "  Fifty,  seventy-five  — 
oh,  God !  a  hundred  —  a  hundred  thousand  dollars, 
Colonel." 

John  freed  himself  with  a  shudder.  "  Corporal,  take 
charge  of  your  man.  Forward  !  March  !  " 

He  went  back  to  the  office,  and  angrily  paced  the 
floor,  while  Stimson,  with  under  lip  drawn  in,  listened 
meekly. 

"  By  heavens,"  John  cried  at  last.  "  I  shall  not  stop 
until  I've  unearthed  every  scoundrel  and  thrown  him 
into  prison.  It  is  about  time  people  began  to  under 
stand  what  I'm  here  for.  There's  dishonesty  right  here 
in  this  bureau.  I  know  it,  and  I'll  find  it  out.  Just 
remember  that !  I'll  do  it,  if  I  have  to  throw  the  whole 
bureau  out."  Stimson  went  out  shortly  after  this,  and  a 
sudden  hush  fell  on  the  outer  room. 

It  was  now  six  o'clock.  John  lit  the  lamps  and 
worked  for  an  hour  at  the  mass  of  correspondence  on 
his  desk ;  requisitions  from  depot  headquarters,  com 
plaints  from  the  front,  urgent  demands  for  mules  and 
ammunition,  department  orders,  and  what  not.  Stim 
son  had  gone,  long  ago,  and  the  outer  offices  were  dark 
when  he  pulled  out  his  watch,  pushed  aside  the  heap 
of  communications,  and  arranged  the  desk  preparatory 
to  leaving.  At  the  very  last  he  took  up  a  small  letter 
and  broke  the  seal.  It  was  anonymous,  and  warned 
him  to  change  his  homeward  route  of  nights.  He 
looked  it  over  carefully,  seeking  some  clew  to  its  author 
ship,  pursed  his  lips  and  drew  out  a  drawer  and  dropped 
it  on  a  heap  of  similar  warnings  and  threats,  alike 
unsigned. 

The  building  was  empty,  save  for  his  presence.  He 
could  hear  the  stairs  and  the  floors  creaking  from  cellar 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  313 

to  roof.  He  looked  down  on  the  ominous  pile,  ran  his 
hand  deep  into  it  up  to  his  wrist,  and  said  to  himself 
with  a  queer  shake  of  his  head,  "  And  to  think  I  didn't 
want  to  enter  here  because  there  was  no  danger ! " 

Then  slipping  a  revolver  into  his  pocket,  and  locking 
the  desk,  he  started  for  home.  He  walked  on  reso 
lutely,  under  low,  flickering  lamps,  and  down  lugubrious, 
cramped  streets  with  blind  alleys  opening  at  his  side 
every  few  steps,  disregarding  the  warning  as  an  attempt 
by  his  enemies  to  frighten  him,  but  nevertheless  glancing 
quickly  from  right  to  left.  Three-quarters  of  the  way 
were  passed  when  suddenly  a  brick  whizzed  directly 
behind  him,  waking  the  silent  streets  with  the  crash  of 
its  breaking.  He  glanced  up  sharply,  and  thought  he 
could  distinguish  a  figure,  even  in  the  blackness  of  an 
open  window.  He  had  not  stopped  for  a  moment,  but 
his  fingers  closed  around  the  weapon  in  his  pocket. 

"Humph!"  he  thought,  "maybe  the  warning  was 
from  a  friend,  after  all."  He  had  known  for  a  week 
that  there  was  an  organized  cabal  to  oust  him,  but  he 
had  not  thought  it  would  come  to  this.  "  The  scoundrel 
—  I  hate  to  give  cowards  a  chance  to  say  I  am  afraid 
of  them." 

His  lips  tightened,  and  he  shut  his  teeth  with  a  snap, 
and  hurried  on  his  way.  All  at  once  he  shook  his  head 
and  added,  "  No,  I  must  be  careful,  I  must  change  my 
path ;  my  life  is  not  my  own,  it  belongs  to  another  now. 
Yes,  to  two  others,  if  God  be  willing."  And  he  drew 
his  hand  across  his  forehead  as  though  to  brush  away 
all  troublesome  thoughts.  "Brave  little  woman,  she 
must  not  know  the  danger,  come ! " 

He  turned  down  the  narrow  street  that  held  their 
home,  and  saw  afar  off  the  welcoming  lamp  blazing 
cheerily  from  the  window,  where  some  one  had  placed 


3i4  ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

it.  He  reached  the  gate  and  opened  it  with  a  click, 
sending  a  signal  whistle  through  the  air.  Instantly 
the  curtains  in  the  window  trembled ;  as  he  tumbled 
up  the  dark  steps,  he  heard  some  one  running  to  the 
door,  and  the  next  moment  he  was  in  a  flood  of  light, 
and  Marjory  was  in  his  arms.  He  closed  the  door 
behind  him  without  letting  go  of  her,  and  said,  as  he 
bent  over  her,  "Very  tired  of  waiting,  little  one  ? " 

"  I  have  been  waiting  so  long,  John,"  she  said,  drop 
ping  her  head  on  his  shoulder;  "what  makes  you  so  late?" 

"  I've  had  a  stormy  day  of  it,"  he  answered,  and  when 
they  had  gone  in  to  dinner,  he  told  her  of  the  events  in 
the  office.  "Why  do  you  look  at  me  so  strangely, 
Marjory  ?  You  weren't  frightened  about  me,  were  you  ? 
You  mustn't  do  that,  little  wife." 

She  looked  up  at  him  with  a  smile,  half  pleading  and 
half  sad,  and  answered,  as  she  shook  her  head,  "I 
couldn't  help  it  to-day  —  I  was  so  lonely." 

He  shook  his  finger  at  her,  and  when  Aunt  Sally  had 
bustled  from  the  room,  he  leaned  over  the  table  and 
pinched  her  cheeks.  "  What  an  idea  !  Do  you  think  if 
there  was  any  danger,  I'd  hide  it  from  you?" 

They  were  at  a  cosey  little  table,  the  candles  beaming 
upon  them  cheerily,  three  bright  logs  snapping  in  the 
fireplace  in  the  parlor  and  filling  the  rooms  with  the 
sound  of  their  singing.  He  put  out  his  hand  and  took 
hers. 

"Well,  Marjory,  you've  had  a  pretty  rough  time  of  it, 
dearie.  How  you  have  stood  by  me,  sweetheart ;  but 
we've  got  our  little  home  at  last, — haven't  we  ?  —  and  we 
don't  care  what  goes  on  outside." 

The  meal  ended,  they  went  together  hand  and  hand 
into  the  parlor  and  drew  the  great  arm-chair  before  the 
glowing  fire-dogs. 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  315 

"Why,  there  it  is  again,"  he  said,  holding  her  off  at 
arm's-length.  "  That  same  strange,  wistful  look.  Why, 
little  woman,  there  are  tears  in  your  eyes." 

The  next  moment  she  was  in  his  arms,  whispering, 
"  Oh,  John,  be  very  good  to  me  these  days,  I  am  so 
lonely,  I  cannot  help  it.  Oh,  hold  me  in  your  strong 
arms." 

He  drew  her  down  into  the  chair,  upon  his  knees,  and 
in  his  arms,  so  that  she  lay  with  her  head  against  his 
cheek. 

"  Don't  you  understand,  John,  why  I  look  at  you  so  ? " 
She  sank  her  voice  to  a  whisper.  "  It  comes  over  me 
so  strongly  to-night  —  the  wonder  and  the  mystery,  the 
awful  mystery  of  another  life  so  soon  to  be  ours,  yours 
and  mine,  another  life,  dear,  and  we  —  we  can't  under 
stand  it,  can  we?"  She  put  her  arms  around  his  neck, 
and  raised  her  face  to  see  his  eyes  —  the  eyes  that  were 
deep  in  the  secrets  of  the  fire ;  then  she  dropped  her 
head,  and  lay  like  a  child  on  its  mother's  breast, 
silently  taking  long  breaths.  Then  her  arms  tightened, 
and  she  cried,  "  Oh,  my  husband,  watch  over  me ! " 


CHAPTER   XXXII 

IN  the  deep  of  the  night,  long  after  John  had  fallen 
into  a  troubled  sleep,  Marjory  lay  at  his  side  awake, 
her  mind  thronged  with  the  new  emotions  of  the  even 
ing,  awed  before  the  wonder  of  the  life  so  soon  to  be 
hers.  She  lay  there  quietly,  at  rest  and  at  peace.  The 
long  waiting  was  over  —  she  had  her  home  at  last,  and 
in  his  keeping  she  was  safe.  She  put  her  hand  softly 
over  his  shoulder,  as  though  surrendering  herself  to  his 
guardianship,  and  turned  peacefully  to  fall  asleep.  All 
at  once,  perhaps  prompted  by  her  touch,  she  felt  him 
start  uneasily  at  her  side,  and  he  began  to  talk  rapidly, 
sitting  upright.  She  put  her  arm  out  to  wake  him  from 
his  nightmare,  when  suddenly,  through  all  the  incoherence 
of  his  rambling,  she  caught  a  word  that  checked  her  and 
made  her  listen  breathlessly.  Through  it  all,  one  phrase 
was  repeated  again  and  again,  "  I  must  not  let  her 
know ! "  Through  the  scattered  phrases  she  divined 
the  weight  that  was  pressing  on  his  mind,  the  danger 
which  he  would  keep  from  her. 

Hurriedly  she  woke  him,  hiding  her  emotion,  and 
when  at  last  he  was  conscious,  she  said  sleepily  :  "  What 
a  nightmare,  John !  Have  you  been  fighting  the  whole 
war  ? " 

He  turned  to  her,  dazed  and  startled.  He  had  been 
dreaming  of  plots  and  conspiracies,  and  the  horror  of 
it  was  yet  working  in  his  mind.  "  What  did  I  say  ? " 
he  asked  anxiously. 

316 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  317 

"An  awful  jumble,"  she  answered  indifferently,  "and 
now  let  General  Lee  alone,  —  I'm  going  fast  asleep." 

But  she  did  not.  Long  after  he  had  fallen  off  again 
quickly,  she  lay  there  trying  to  see  her  way  clear 
amid  the  responsibilities  and  worries  so  suddenly 
awakened. 

"  How  quickly  he  is  asleep,"  she  thought.  "  He  is 
worn  out.  What  did  he  mean  by  those  terrible  words. 
Has  his  life  really  been  threatened  ?  Oh,  I  have 
feared  as  much,  ever  since  the  morning  he  hid  that  let 
ter  from  me.  And  so  he  is  afraid  that  I  shall  know, 
that  I  shall  worry — that  is  it." 

She  closed  her  eyes  even  in  the  pitch  of  the  room, 
as  though  to  shut  out  the  sudden  longings  that  came 
into  her  heart,  the  longing  to  be  free  of  care,  to  be 
guarded,  to  surrender  herself  into  his  keeping,  away 
from  all  the  drags  and  worries  of  life  !  Just  a  moment 
her  heart  was  left  empty  and  hungering,  and  then  lis 
tening  to  the  uneasy  breathing  by  her  side,  she  closed 
her  lips  and  said  :  "  What  other  women  have  done,  I  can 
do.  God  helping  me,  he  shall  never  know  that  I  suspect." 

The  next  morning  John  had  already  gone  when  she 
rose  and  went  downstairs.  The  postman  was  clamoring 
at  the  door.  She  opened  it,  took  a  handful  of  letters, 
and  went  into  the  parlor  to  sort  them  over.  There 
were  several  cards  of  invitation,  one  to  a  reception 
at  the  governor's,  at  which  they  would  have  to  be 
present ;  a  letter  from  the  wife  of  a  soldier  imploring 
assistance ;  two  marked  "  private  and  personal  "  from 
contractors  —  familiar  types  of  thinly  disguised,  care 
fully  worded  offers  of  bribes;  one  unsigned,  threaten 
ing  forcible  retaliation  if  further  investigations  were 
pursued  in  the  department ;  and,  finally,  one  which  she 
had  kept  to  the  last,  an  envelope  addressed  to  herself. 


3i 8  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

The  postmark  was  Baltimore,  the  handwriting  strange. 
"  What,  will  they  even  threaten  me  ? "  she  wondered, 
and  tore  it  open  to  read. 

It  was  of  a  kind  yet  unfamiliar;  not  a  threat,  but 
something  more  ominous,  a  warning,  urging  her  never 
to  allow  her  husband  to  answer  the  door  or  sit  near  a 
window,  and  to  keep  him  at  home  as  much  as  possible 
after  dark.  She  read  the  letter  over  twice,  seeking 
some  clew  to  its  identity.  Then  she  rose  and  walked  in 
her  agitation. 

"  If  such  a  letter  can  come  to  me,  what  must  he 
receive  !  Why  not  tell  him  that  I  know  the  danger,  and 
help  him.  Would  not  that  be  the  best,  after  all  ?  "  But 
in  the  end,  after  many  changes,  she  shook  her  head. 
"  No,  he  would  know  every  night  how  I  hung  in  fear 
and  trembling  on  his  coming.  No,  I  must  not — I 
must  hide  my  fears  —  hard  as  it  may  be  just  now." 

After  lunch  she  took  up  a  book  and  went  to  sit  by 
the  window  to  read.  But  instead,  the  page  remained 
unturned,  the  book  lay  idly  on  her  lap,  and  she  bent 
her  head  to  the  window,  the  longing  of  the  night  return 
ing.  In  the  still  girlish  days,  when  cares  beyond  her 
years  had  fallen  on  her  young  shoulders,  how  often  she 
had  dreamed  by  the  fireplace  in  her  room,  over  a  splen 
did  book  of  love  and  old  romance,  of  the  time  when 
some  one  would  come  and  banish  all  the  responsibilities, 
and  set  the  girl  free  from  the  woman  !  It  is  hard  to 
surrender  the  old  desires,  to  shut  out  the  old  longings. 
What  woman  is  not  called  on  some  time  to  renounce 
the  dreams  and  the  ideals  of  her  girlhood  ?  When  on 
the  night  of  their  betrothal,  John  lay  tossing  on  his  bed 
under  the  weight  of  the  great  duties  and  deep  awaken 
ings  so  suddenly  taken  on  him,  Marjory  was  fast  in  a 
happy,  smiling  sleep,  her  hands  pressed  under  her 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  319 

cheek,  for  some  one  had  come  into  her  life  before 
whom  she  stood  as  a  little  child,  full  of  trust  and  care 
less  confidence.  That  night  she  had  dreamed  of  Arcady, 
all  sunshine  and  beauty,  without  a  burden  or  a  respon 
sibility,  without  anything  to  trouble  the  freedom  of  its 
sky ;  a  land  where  all  the  dominant  instincts  of  her 
soul  should  awake,  —  the  mirth,  the  laughter,  the  po 
etry,  the  music,  the  imagination  that  flushed  and  thrilled 
before  a  beautiful  landscape  or  a  glowing  sky.  She 
knew  that  all  this  was  again  to  recede  from  her  vision. 
It  was  not  to  be.  But  as  she  leaned  back,  straining  her 
eyes  into  the  narrow  street,  a  mist  came  before  them  — 
for  the  dreams  were  very  real. 

She  had  known  only  one  day  of  perfect  happiness ; 
then  the  war  burst  over  their  heads  and  swept  them 
out  of  dreamland  into  the  militant  world.  Her  hurried 
marriage  in  the  little  church,  with  the  tramp  of  passing 
regiments  sounding  without,  and  the  flying  journey 
through  the  angry,  startled  country,  were  like  fearful, 
fleeting  dreams,  unreal  in  the  occurrence,  impossible  in 
the  recollection.  Bravely  and  loyally  she  had  put  aside 
all  the  longing  and  the  seeking  from  her  heart,  and 
placed  her  hand  in  her  husband's,  and  stood  by  his  side. 
She  had  dreamed  of  life  with  John  as  a  time  without 
cares  —  she  found  only  new  and  greater  ones.  From 
West  to  East,  hither  and  thither,  by  train,  by  packet, 
by  stage-coach,  without  rest,  unceasingly  she  had  fol 
lowed,  often  faint,  discouraged,  longing  to  cry  out  for  a 
halt,  while  John  went  from  one  station  to  another,  leaving 
his  mark  of  administration  everywhere,  until  one  event 
ful  morning  he  had  told  her  of  his  promotion  to  Balti 
more,  saying,  with  the  laugh  she  loved  so  well :  "Attention, 
Battalion !  Colonel  Gaunt,  if  you  please !  It  means 
more  work,  but  it  means,  my  brave  little  girl,  a  home !  " 


320  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

And  now  even  this  hope  was  dissipated,  for  here 
was  a  new  crisis.  All  this  came  into  her  mind  as  she 
sat  rocking,  her  hands  folded  on  her  lap.  Once  she 
cried  out  in  spirit :  "  Can  I  do  it  ?  Again  and  again  ! 
Will  there  be  no  rest  ? "  Then  the  storm  passed, 
and  after  a  while  she  raised  her  left  hand  and  kissed 
the  ring,  and  said,  "Anything  —  I  can  do  anything  for 
him." 

She  glanced  down  at  the  neglected  book,  closed  it,  and 
laid  it  aside.  It  was  growing  dark,  and  the  hour  of  his 
coming  was  at  hand.  She  rose  and  lit  the  lamp,  placing 
it  in  the  window  where  he  would  see  it.  She  came  back 
and  stood  in  the  centre  of  the  room  a  pensive  moment. 
Putting  her  head  on  one  side,  she  said  plaintively :  "  I 
feel  just  like  an  actress  awaiting  her  cue.  I  wonder  if 
they  ever  play  as  unwillingly  as  I." 

She  laughed,  snapped  her  fingers  in  the  air,  caught 
up  her  skirts,  and  crying,  "  My  turn,"  flung  herself 
down  on  the  stool,  and  played  a  waltz  through  with  spirit. 
When  it  was  ended  she  sat  quite  still,  ran  her  hand  aim 
lessly  up  the  keys,  and  shook  her  head  sadly.  "  I  should 
never  do  —  never ! "  Then  she  rose  and  passed  out  the 
door,  pacing  the  walk  anxiously  to  the  gate  that  com 
manded  a  view  of  his  approach.  Twice  she  had  done 
this,  when  she  heard  a  sudden  click  of  the  latch,  a 
whistle,  and  the  fall  of  his  step.  She  sprang  up,  scamp 
ered  to  the  door,  and  fell  laughing  in  his  arms. 

"  Hello,  little  Colonel,"  cried  John's  big  voice ;  "some 
one's  in  good  spirits  to-night." 

"  Some  one's  very  glad  to  see  some  one  else,"  she 
answered  mischievously,  slipping  her  arm  under  his. 

His  face  lighted  up  so  at  her  good  spirits  that  the 
look  smote  her  heart,  and  accused  her  for  having  been 
blind  so  long.  She  rattled  away  as  she  made  him 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

surrender  his  coat,  and  hung  up  his  hat,  as  merry  as  the 
Marjory  of  old.  She  teased  away  all  the  troubled  lines 
from  his  face  until,  catching  the  infection,  he  began 
to  laugh,  and  imitated  the  astonishment  on  Governor 
Slade's  face  when  he  had  returned  his  fire. 

"  Here  are  the  cards  for  the  official  reception  a  week 
from  to-morrow  —  no  wry  faces,  sir  —  superior  orders, 
Colonel !  Attention  !  Not  in  that  chair  by  the  window. 
Take  the  arm-chair  by  the  fire  at  once,  under  penalty 
of  all  kinds  of  punishment !  " 

"  What  a  little  tyrant ! "  John  protested  weakly, 
suffering  himself  to  be  pushed  into  the  chair;  "and  what 
have  you  been  doing  all  day  long  ?  Pretty  lonely,  little 
woman  ? " 

"  Lonely  ?  Not  a  bit  of  it !  The  idea !  "  She  flung 
up  her  head.  "  I've  had  my  housekeeping,  I've  been 
reading  the  most  fascinating  book,  and  I've  made  up 
my  mind  to  practise  faithfully  every  day.  There !  you 
see  how  easily  the  days  will  slip  by."  As  she  was  talk 
ing,  there  came  a  knock  at  the  door.  She  sprang  up 
from  his  knee.  "I'll  answer  it  —  don't  you  dare  to 
rise." 

He  sunk  back  in  his  chair  —  he  did  not  see  the  look 
in  her  eyes  as  she  threw  the  door  partly  open  and  stood 
in  front  of  it.  It  was  only  a  stranger  asking  the  num 
ber,  but  to  her  quickened  imagination,  what  might  it  not 
have  been !  She  drew  herself  across  the  door,  eying 
him  steadily,  and  when  he  turned,  she  stood  and  watched 
until  he  had  gone  down  the  walk  and  shut  the  gate 
behind. 

"  Who  was  that  ? "  asked  John,  when  he  heard  the 
rustle  of  her  skirt  returning.  He  drew  his  hand  across 
his  forehead  wearily. 

"  Some  one  mistook  the  number,  that  was  all,"  she 

Y 


322  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

said.  She  could  not  bring  back  her  spirits,  so  she  laid 
a  hand  on  his  forehead,  and  said,  "  Shall  I  play  to  you, 
dear  ?  " 

He  nodded  his  head,  and  she  went  to  the  piano.  The 
sweet  voice  filled  the  room  with  its  melody.  He  for 
got  the  office,  the  greed,  the  trickery,  and  the  corrup 
tion  ;  the  constant  fight  against  hidden  enemies  and 
doubtful  friends ;  the  times,  the  city,  the  room ;  he  was 
back  again  with  her  under  the  sweeping  stars,  trembling 
for  her  answer. 

When  at  last  she  rose,  he  had  begun  to  nod.  He  did 
not  see  the  sudden  change  of  her  face  into  anxiety,  as 
she  half  knelt  by  his  chair.  Slowly  missing  the  magic 
from  the  room,  he  started  from  the  drowsiness  into 
which  the  warmth  of  the  fire  and  the  gentle  invitation 
of  her  voice  had  lulled  him,  rubbed  his  eyes,  and  glanced 
up  contritely,  as  she  dropped  on  her  knees,  caught  him 
by  the  cheeks,  and  pretended  to  scold  him. 

So  it  went  day  by  day.  The  letters  continued  to 
come,  threats  from  enemies  and  warnings  from  hidden 
friends.  She  opened  his  mail,  and  burned  the  letters  he 
should  not  see.  She  never  allowed  him  to  answer  the 
door.  She  screened  him  constantly  with  her  own  body 
from  the  window ;  and  at  last,  tortured  by  anxiety,  she 
hired  a  detective  to  follow  him  night  and  day,  armed  and 
ready  to  spring  to  his  assistance. 

He  could  not  understand  the  change  and  bitterly  mis 
interpreted  her  apparent  unconcern. 

"  Great  heavens ! "  he  thought  once  with  a  pang, 
"how  little  she  thinks  of  any  danger  that  I  am  run 
ning.  If  anything  should  happen,  the  shock  would  be 
terrible."  And  in  his  heart  he  was  troubled, — yes, 
even  hurt,  —  at  what  seemed  her  indifference  to  his 
peril. 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  323 

During  this  time  an  incident  happened  from  which 
John  derived  a  good  deal  of  amusement.  On  the  night 
of  the  reception,  as  they  were  starting  off  arm  in  arm 
down  the  street,  he  said  with  a  laugh,  "Ahem,  Marjory, 
we're  going  to  meet  an  old  acquaintance  of  mine  to-night 
—  can  you  guess  ? " 

She  walked  on  a  moment  silently,  "  Is  it  Helen  Dare  ? " 

"  How  did  you  know  ? "  he  cried,  with  another  laugh. 

"  By  the  way  you  spoke."  Her  hold  tightened  a  little, 
and  she  drew  closer  to  his  side.  "  Well  ? " 

"  She  is  Mrs.  Blackstock  now.  Husband  has  lots  of 
money,  not  a  very  good  character.  Looked  on  with 
suspicion  by  the  department.  Well,  Mrs.  Gaunt,  you 
shall  see  her."  He  gave  a  slash  of  his  cane.  "  She 
was  older  than  I,  so  she  may  have  become  tremendously 
stout,  you  know.  What  a  fool  I  was!  Just  because  she 
ran  off  ahead  of  me !  I  fancied  myself  smitten.  What 
a  fool  vanity  makes  of  a  man !  Hello,  it  is  altogether 
ridiculous." 

Marjory  made  no  answer,  but  her  pulse  ran  quicker, 
and  the  doubt  which  is  in  the  bottom  of  every  true 
woman's  heart  caused  her  to  be  unusually  silent  during 
the  rest  of  the  walk. 

They  were  hardly  down  the  stairs,  out  in  the  pushing, 
deafening  crowd,  making  their  bows,  still  dazzled  with 
the  glitter  of  many  lights,  when  they  encountered  a 
swarthy  gentleman  with  scowling  eyebrows  and  furious 
mustache,  and  on  his  arm  a  slender  lady  with  dazzling 
throat  and  arms  and  sparkling  black  eyes,  with  a  rose 
in  her  dark  curls.  Marjory  knew  at  once  who  it  was. 
Her  fan  trembled,  and  she  looked  up  into  her  husband's 
face. 

"  How  d'you  do,  Cousin  Nell  ? "  said  John,  calmly. 

"  How  do  you  do,  John?"  answered  the  other,  drop- 


324  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

ping  her  eyes  under  his  quiet  look.  Blackstock  nodded 
vacantly  to  John,  and  as  they  stepped  forward,  the  ladies 
looked  up  quickly  over  the  husbands'  hands,  full  into 
each  other's  eyes. 

When  they  were  in  the  street  again  Marjory  said 
abruptly,  "  Oh,  John,  I  am  so  sorry  for  her  !  Did  you 
see  how  sad  her  eyes  were  when  she  thought  no  one 
was  looking  ?  I  am  sure  she  isn't  happy.  But  she  is 
very  beautiful,  isn't  she  ? " 

"  She  is  greatly  changed." 

She  clung  to  his  arm  a  little  closer,  and  said,  resting 
her  cheek  against  his  shoulder,  "  Forgive  me,  my  hus 
band —  I  —  I  was  so  jealous,  so  frightened,  until  I  saw 
you  look  at  her." 

"  What —  Marjory  !  Why,  I  have  never  given  her  a 
thought  until  to-night,  nor  doubtless  has  she  me." 

"There  you  are  wrong,  John,"  said  Marjory,  in  a  low 
voice.  "  I  don't  know  what  made  her  leave,  but  I  know 
one  thing  —  she  loved  you." 

"  And  how  do  you  know  that,  little  sphinx  ? " 

"By  —  by  the  way  she  looked  at  you."  Her  fingers 
closed  over  her  fan  as  though  they  would  crush  it. 
"And,  well  —  because  she  hasn't  told  her  husband." 

"  And  your  reasons,  little  witch  ? " 
•  "  He  didn't  look  at  you,"  said  Marjory.  "  Do  you 
think  that  if  I  had  told  you  about  such  an  affair,  and 
you  should  ever  meet  the  man,  you  would  have  no  curi 
osity,  sir?"  She  disengaged  his  arm,  and  then  drew  it 
around  her  with  an  appealing  shrug.  "She  is  beautiful, 
isn't  she,  dear  ? " 


CHAPTER   XXXIII 

As  Stimson  had  surmised,  Governor  Slade  lost  neither 
time  nor  energy  in  his  attack  upon  the  new  head  of  the 
commissary.  About  two  weeks  after  the  events  of  the 
last  chapter,  the  secretary  came  in  with  an  envelope 
bearing  the  address  of  the  War  Department.  John 
broke  it  open,  cast  his  eye  over  the  sheet,  and  said : 
"  Hello,  Stimson,  here  it  is  at  last.  Now  we  shall  hear 
from  the  governor."  He  ran  through  a  page  of  direc 
tions,  and  then  read  aloud  :  — 

"I  have  received  at  regular  intervals  during  the  last  three  weeks, 
voluminous  communications  from  S.,  dealing  with  your  moral  and 
mental  shortcomings,  in  the  governor's  recognized  style.  The  prob 
abilities  are  that  we  shall  continue  to  receive  his  contributions  for 
some  time  to  come.  My  only  criticism  of  your  conduct  is  to  sug 
gest  that  in  the  future,  should  another  meeting  occur,  you  would  do 
well  to  imitate  the  governor's  frankness.  I  shall  forward  you  the 
correspondence  later  for  your  own  edification." 

"  I  reckon  the  governor  raved  a  bit,"  said  John,  with 
a  twinkle  in  his  eye ;  "  at  all  events,  he  doesn't  seem  to 
have  undermined  us  with  the  Secretary." 

The  rest  of  the  letter  drew  his  serious  attention.  It 
warned  him  to  proceed  at  once  to  augment  his  stores 
and  arrange  additional  facilities  for  transportation  so  as 
to  be  ready  to  meet  instant  demands,  and  concluded  with 
the  hint  of  a  great  general  forward  movement  of  the 
Union  armies. 

The  year  1863  had  brought  the  victories  of  Gettysburg, 
Vicksburg,  and  Chattanooga,  rousing  the  whole  North  to 

325 


326  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

a  renewed  clamor  of  "  On  to  Richmond."  Confidence 
sprang  up  on  all  sides,  and  every  one  felt  that  operations 
on  a  stupendous  scale  would  begin  with  the  spring. 

John  had  had  an  inkling  of  the  future  movements 
that  were  to  terminate  in  the  fall  of  the  Confederacy, 
and  it  was  not  long  before  he  received  definite  notice 
of  Grant's  preparations,  with  increased  and  urgent  de 
mands  upon  his  stores. 

Then  ensued  a  month  of  unceasing  activity.  He 
went  everywhere,  saw  everything  himself,  learned  every 
detail,  constantly  stirring  on  his  men  to  greater  efforts ; 
now  at  the  storehouse  goading  them  to  larger  ship 
ments,  at  times  doubling  the  force,  working  night  and 
day;  now  in  the  offices  of  the  railroad,  insisting  on 
better  facilities ;  now  at  the  wharves  searching  for  avail 
able  steamers.  Orders  poured  in  from  headquarters, 
commanding  fresh  supplies.  One  day  it  was  50x3,000 
Ibs.  of  pilot  bread  beyond  the  requisition,  30,000  Ibs. 
of  soap,  100,000  Ibs.  of  coffee;  the  next  it  was  10,000 
head  of  beef  cattle  on  the  hoof  to  be  delivered  in 
a  week,  or  an  enormous  demand  for  clothing.  He 
met  them  all.  He  telegraphed  twice  a  day  to  the 
various  contractors  throughout  the  country  to  hasten 
their  delivery,  he  offered  them  bonuses  on  every 
day's  margin  of  time  ahead  of  contract  specifications. 
He  shod  the  new  volunteers,  clothed  them,  put  caps 
on  their  heads,  guns  in  their  hands,  raised  tents  to 
cover  them  at  night,  sent  horses  and  mules  to  trans 
port  their  luggage,  pontoon  bridges  to  carry  them  over 
the  rivers,  and  ambulances  to  care  for  them  after  the  bat 
tle.  Hardly  a  day  passed  that  new  bids  were  not  given 
out  from  the  subsistence  office  for  pork  ;  new  mess  and 
first  quality  sugar-coated  hams ;  prime  white  beans,  Rio 
coffee,  butter,  bacon,  tallow,  lard,  vinegar,  and  whiskey. 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  327 

When  John  had  arrived  in  Baltimore,  he  had  found 
the  department  so  completely  at  the  mercy  of  the  con 
tractors,  that  he  resorted  in  desperation  to  the  expedi 
ents  that  had  served  him  at  Cleveland.  He  engaged 
men  secretly  to  act  as  his  agents,  and  sent  them  out  to 
scour  the  country,  apparently  in  a  private  capacity. 

For  a  long  time  he  was  nonplussed  how  to  meet  the 
syndicate  that  strove  to  control  all  offers  on  bids  to  the 
city.  At  last  he  hit  upon  the  following  plan.  He  retained 
a  certain  Bellews,  who  had  served  him  once  out  West, 
and  in  whom  he  had  confidence,  to  act  as  his  confeder 
ate,  while  ostensibly  joining  the  crowd  of  hungry  con 
tractors  ;  and  when  it  became  absolutely  necessary  to 
resort  to  these  professionals,  as  was  often  the  case,  by 
letting  slip  a  hint  of  a  low  bid  on  the  part  of  Bellews, 
he  succeeded  in  beating  them  down  to  more  reasonable 
terms. 

At  last  the  demand  slackened,  the  preparations  were 
complete.  May  arrived,  and  with  it  the  sudden  launch 
ing  out  of  the  two  great  armies  of  invasion  that  were  to 
cut  the  Confederacy  in  two.  The  strain  was  over ;  the 
commissary  paused  for  breath. 

Amid  all  the  hurry  and  the  race  of  those  long  weeks, 
John  had  been  much  embarrassed  and  not  a  little  down 
cast  by  the  evident  hostility  displayed  toward  him  by 
many  of  his  subordinates.  Open  dislike  he  minded  not 
at  all,  but  as  the  weeks  went  by,  he  began  to  feel  certain 
subtle  influences  constantly  directed  against  him,  whose 
end  appeared  to  be  to  thwart  the  effectiveness  of  his 
measures,  and  thus  to  establish  a  ground  of  complaint 
against  him  on  the  score  of  incapacity.  He  could  never 
place  his  hand  on  anything  tangible,  —  that  was  what 
baffled  him,  —  but,  somehow,  the  plainest  directions  were 
always  being  misinterpreted  ;  orders  were  mislaid,  and 


328  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

blunders,  seemingly  impossible,  cropped  up  at  every 
turn.  Soon  he  saw,  beyond  the  shadow  of  a  doubt,  that 
what  he  had  feared  from  the  beginning  —  an  organized 
cabal — was  in  progress,  to  effect  his  removal  by  any  means 
at  its  command.  His  actions  were  constantly  spied  upon, 
traps  were  laid  for  his  discomfiture,  and  bribes  were  sug 
gested  —  now,  he  felt,  with  the  sole  purpose  of  securing 
incriminating  evidence. 

At  length  he  even  went  so  far  as  to  lay  the  situation 
before  Secretary  Stanton,  the  difficulties  in  the  way  of 
the  successful  performance  of  his  duty,  the  intrigue  and 
trickery  that  lurked  through  the  department. 

"Use  all  diplomacy,"  came  the  terse  reply;  "prosecute  where  it 
is  safe  to  prosecute ;  but  do  so  quietly,  as  it  is  necessary  that  this 
condition  of  affairs  shall  be  withheld  from  public  knowledge.  Have 
no  fear  of  our  loyalty  to  you.  Letters  continue  to  pour  in  reviling 
you,  but  we  know  from  what  quarter  they  are  inspired.  Count 
always  on  our  understanding  and  informed  support." 

Intrenched  with  this  letter,  John  determined  to  return 
the  attacks  of  his  enemies  with  a  sharp  counter-thrust. 
He  at  once  appointed  a  board  of  investigation,  and  had 
them  overhaul  the  accounts,  and  on  the  unquestioned 
evidence  of  fraud  thus  obtained,  he  had  several  officers 
transferred,  and  forced  three  to  resign.  The  result  was 
an  outpouring  of  threats,  growing  more  violent  and  more 
open  as  the  dismay  began  to  spread.  He  was  again 
and  again  commanded  "  to  desist  from  these  tyrannical 
and  despotic  measures  under  penalty  of  the  worst." 
Lieutenant  Taft,  his  right-hand  man,  was  shot  down  and 
killed  as  he  was  passing  along  an  alley  by  night.  An 
infernal  machine  was  actually  sent  to  the  office,  and  the 
life  of  the  negro  who  opened  it  was  saved  only  by  its 
faulty  construction.  The  many  loyal  officers  who  had 
heralded  his  coming  besought  him  again  and  again  to 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  329 

provide  for  his  personal  safety,  to  take  precautions  that 
were  absolutely  necessary.  He  was  not  insensible  to 
the  chances  he  ran.  He  consented  to  post  a  sentry  at 
the  side  entrance  of  his  office,  but  when  it  came  to  the 
question  of  an  escort,  he  refused  point-blank.  To  all 
intimidations  he  answered  with  fresh  investigations. 

At  the  first  news  of  the  great  campaign,  prices  bounded 
up,  but  John  had  made  his  moves  in  time,  and,  secure 
in  his  possessions,  was  able  to  enjoy  the  discomfiture 
of  his  enemies.  One  day  there  came  to  him  a  fresh  re 
minder  of  the  treachery  and  avarice  with  which  he  had 
to  contend.  Toward  the  end  of  June,  there  entered  his. 
office  a  quiet,  circumstantial  man,  with  a  sallow  com 
plexion  and  a  drooping  mustache,  one  end  of  which  was 
constantly  in  his  fingers,  —  Porter,  an  agent  in  whom  he 
placed  great  confidence.  Early  was  making  a  counter- 
dash  into  Maryland,  in  a  last  effort  to  draw  Grant  from 
Richmond,  and  Wallace  was  hastily  preparing  to  throw 
himself  in  front  of  the  invaders  and  arrest  their  progress. 
For  a  week  the  commissary  had  been  busy  rushing  for 
ward  supplies.  That  very  moment  had  come  an  urgent 
demand  for  more  mules.  And  so  it  was  with  a  sigh  of 
relief  that  John  greeted  his  agent  cordially,  and  cried : 
"  Porter,  in  the  nick  of  time !  How  many  mules  have 
you  got  for  me  ? " 

The  newcomer  put  his  hat  softly  on  the  desk,  thrust 
his  hands  in  his  pockets,  and,  beginning  to  walk,  said : 
"  Colonel,  I'll  be  plain  and  straightforward  with  you. 
The  fact  of  the  matter  is,  I've  decided  to  set  up  for 
myself.  I-  ain't  your  agent  any  longer.  I'm  looking 
after  my  own  bacon  this  time." 

John  was  on  his  guard  at  once,  though  it  suited  him 
not  to  perceive  immediately  the  drift  of  the  other's  re 
marks.  "  You  are  of  course  free  to  leave  the  govern- 


330  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

ment  service,  Mr.  Porter,  at  any  time  —  that  is,  after 
you  have  given  in  your  report.  I  shall  not  oppose  it, 
though  I  shall  be  very  sorry  to  lose  your  services,  for  I 
have  always  found  you  honorable,  and  a  man  of  your 
word." 

"  See  here,  Colonel,"  burst  out  Porter,  wheeling  about 
defiantly.  "  Now,  none  of  that.  You  know  what  I 
mean.  I've  got  contracts  here  for  them  mules  and 
other  things.  What  I  want  to  know  is,  shall  I  sell 
them  to  you  or  some  one  else  ? " 

"  Sell  ? "  John  answered  coldly.  "  Let  me  under 
stand  you,  Mr.  Porter.  Do  you  mean  that,  having 
secured  an  option  on  goods  under  a  government  com 
mission,  you  now  repudiate  it,  and  wish  to  sell  me  at  a 
higher  figure  what  I  commissioned  you  to  buy  ? " 

"Well,  you  put  it  rather  rough,  but  that's  the  idea." 
He  picked  up  his  hat  nervously,  and  looked  at  John. 
"  I'm  striking  out  for  myself.  I've  thrown  up  the 
commission,  and  I  ain't  used  your  money,  have  I  ?  So, 
what's  crooked  about  it,  I'd  like  to  know  ? " 

"  Your  word  of  honor  to  me." 

Porter  moved  uneasily. 

"  So  that  is  it,"  said  John,  quietly  looking  him  over. 
He  shut  his  lips  tight,  took  up  a  pencil  and  began  to 
tap  on  the  desk  with  it,  staring  down  at  the  blotter. 
Suddenly  he  jotted  down  a  few  words  on  a  slip  of  paper, 
rang  the  bell,  and  handed  it  to  the  entering  Stimson. 

"  Well,  Colonel,  what  you  say  ? "  began  Porter,  who 
had  watched  this  by-play  with  apprehension. 

John  rose  slowly,  stepped  from  behind  the  desk,  and 
began  to  walk  the  room,  until  suddenly  the  door  opened 
again,  and  Stimson's  red  head  was  thrust  in  and  gave  him 
a  nod  of  intelligence. 

"  Porter,  see  here  ! "  cried  John,  stepping  forward  so 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  331 

quickly  that  the  other  withdrew  a  step.  "  I've  trusted 
you,  haven't  I  ?  What  you  are  doing  is  dishonorable, 
contemptible,  and  the  work  of  a  sneak,  and  you  know  it. 
Did  you  or  did  you  not  give  me  a  solemn  promise  to  act 
for  me  ? " 

Porter  shrugged  his  shoulder  and  ran  his  fingers  ner 
vously  through  his  mustache.  "  It  don't  look  nice,  I 
admit.  Well,  damn  it,  yes;  I  did  make  a  promise  to 
you  to  act  for  the  government.  I  ain't  a  hypocrite, 
and  I  don't  mind  admitting  the  thing  to  you,  though  I 
wouldn't  be  so  outspoken  with  anybody  else.  Well,  I 
break  it  now.  It's  rough,  I  know,  but  I  need  the  money. 
There,  you  have  it." 

"  Porter,  will  you  deliver  those  contracts  to  me  ?  Yes 
or  no,  quick  ?  " 

"  Oh,  come,  now." 

The  next  moment  John  had  sprung  at  him,  caught 
him  by  the  throat,  swung  him  off  his  balance,  and  cast 
him  flat  on  the  floor.  He  pressed  his  knee  on  the  fel 
low's  chest,  throttling  him  with  one  hand  until  ne 
shrieked  for  mercy. 

"  Will  you  give  them  to  me  ?  " 

"Yes — yes.  Oh,  my  chest  1  Oh,  oh,  God,  my 
throat!" 

John  allowed  him  to  rise,  tottering  and  choking. 
"  Quick !  "  he  demanded,  thrusting  out  his  hand. 

Porter,  gasping  for  breath,  drew  out  his  pocket-book 
and  held  forward  two  slips. 

"Give  me  the  rest,"  John  burst  out,  "or  I  swear  I'll 
kill  you ! " 

"  I  swear —  "  the  other  began. 

The  next  moment  John  had  him  by  the  shoulders  in  a 
vise-like  grip. 

"Oh,  God  —  I    will  —  I   will  —  here,  and   here,  and 


332  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

here  !  "  The  options  escaped  his  trembling  fingers  and 
fell  fluttering  to  the  floor.  He  dropped  down  quickly, 
picked  them  up,  and  gave  them  to  John.  His  fear  was 
ludicrous. 

"Porter,  you're  lying  to  me  —  there's  another." 

"  Before  God,  Colonel  Gaunt,  there  isn't !  Here,  take 
my  pocket-book  —  here  —  look  —  look  !  " 

"  Enough,"  said  John,  satisfied,  allowing  him  to  sink 
into  a  chair.  "  You've  a  lot  to  learn,  Porter ;  another 
mistake  like  this  might  cost  you  your  life." 

He  went  to  the  desk,  wrote  out  a  check,  and  rang  the 
bell.  Instantly  the  door  opened,  and  Stimson's  curious 
face  appeared.  "  Stimson,  you  listened,  as  I  directed 
you  ? " 

"  Yes,  Colonel." 

"  You  heard  Mr.  Porter  admit  he  had  broken  his  con 
tract  with  me  ? " 

"  Yes,  Colonel." 

"Very  well,  remain  here.  Porter,  this  is  your  com 
mission  ;  I  advise  you  to  take  it." 

The  man  hesitated  a  moment,  then  rose,  glanced  at  it 
sullenly,  and  placed  it  in  his  pocket-book. 

"  Good  !  Stimson,  make  a  note  of  that.  He  accepted 
his  commission  —  without  compulsion,"  he  added  grimly. 
"  Now,  good  day.  You  know  what  to  expect  of  me. 
Don't  give  me  another  chance.  Do  you  hear  ?  Good 
day,  Mr.  Porter." 

At  the  first,  John  had  really  lost  his  temper  at  the 
fellow's  arrogance ;  then,  as  soon  as  he  perceived  he 
had  to  deal  with  a  coward,  he  had  assumed  an  anger, 
to  gain  his  ends. 

Before  nightfall  the  affair  had  made  the  rounds  of 
Baltimore.  Imagine  the  indignation  that  broke  out  in 
certain  quarters.  They  would  have  the  law  on  him  at 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  333 

once !  No  one  was  safe  from  such  a  despot !  Think 
of  the  brutal  assault  on  a  respectable  business  man  ! 
But  somehow  the  tempest  never  exploded.  Strangely 
enough,  about  this  time,  it  transpired  that  Colonel 
Gaunt  was  in  receipt  of  a  congratulatory  note  from 
Washington,  which  he  had  allowed  a  few  friends  to  see 
—  of  course,  under  pledge  of  the  strictest  secrecy. 

As  John  went  home  that  night,  he  became  aware  that 
some  one  was  dogging  his  steps.  For  weeks  he  had 
had  a  strange,  inexplicable  feeling  that  he  was  being 
shadowed.  Now,  as  he  looked  around  suddenly,  he 
saw,  under  a  lamp-post,  a  figure  in  an  army  cape  and 
slouch  hat,  a  half  block  behind.  He  crossed  to  the 
other  side  of  the  street  and  a  block  farther  on,  recrossed. 
He  turned  down  side  streets  and  made  a  loop,  and  then 
returned  on  his  way.  The  shadow  back  of  him  imitated 
every  movement.  He  put  his  hand  into  his  coat  pocket, 
and  with  his  thumb  on  the  hammer  of  his  revolver 
walked  steadily  on,  without  again  turning  his  head,  won 
dering  all  the  while  when  he  would  hear  a  sharp  singing 
through  the  air  and  feel  a  bullet  in  his  back.  When  he 
came  to  his  street  he  turned,  and  saw  the  figure  stop, 
follow  him  a  moment,  and  then  wheel  and  retreat  into 
the  night. 

He  went  down  toward  the  little  white  house  with  the 
green  pillars  at  the  door.  The  lamp  was  blazing  its 
welcome  at  the  window.  Suddenly  all  the  longing  that 
had  been  over  him  for  weeks  swept  into  his  heart  again. 
How  little  the  wife  he  loved  gave  thought  to  the  dangers 
he  ran  each  night !  He  was  disappointed ;  he  felt  the 
want  of  something  in  her ;  he  was  unable  to  understand 
her.  It  was  not  like  Marjory.  He  unlatched  the  gate 
without  a  sound,  stole  on  tiptoe  up  the  walk,  and  looked 
in  through  the  window.  He  could  see  her  through  the 


334  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

curtains,  seated  at  the  piano,  the  volume  of  the  music 
swelling  louder  and  louder  as  he  came  near. 

"  Perhaps  it  is  best  she  should  not  know,  poor  little 
woman."  He  turned  away  with  a  sigh  that  would  not 
down.  "She  has  all  she  can  bear  now,  and  yet  —  oh, 
if  just  once  she  had  shown  m'e  her  solicitude  !  It  isn't 
the  way  I  thought  she  would  be  —  not  Marjory,"  he 
added ;  and  though  he  tried  to  explain  it,  he  went  in, 
heavy  of  heart. 


CHAPTER   XXXIV 

TOWARD  the  beginning  of  July,  though  Wallace, 
against  considerable  odds,  was  endeavoring  with  hastily 
gathered  troops  to  hold  Early  in  check,  John's  work 
was  less  exacting,  and  he  was  able  so  to  arrange  his 
affairs  that  he  could  return  home  for  lunch  and  spend 
the  quiet  afternoons  with  Marjory,  reading  from  a  favor 
ite  book,  or  coaxing  the  smiles  back  to  her  pale  face. 
Despite  her  weakness,  this  was  to  her  the  happiest  time 
since  their  marriage,  —  to  have  him  at  her  side,  where 
she  could  know  that  he  was  safe,  to  resign,  for  a  brief 
time,  her  sinking  fears  for  his  safety,  to  give  herself 
over  to  his  care  and  support  —  this  was  a  little  of  the 
paradise  she  had  sought  so  long.  She  never  complained. 
Her  face  was  radiant  at  every  coming  of  his  step. 
What  was  suffering  or  weakness  compared  to  the  sick 
ening  dread  that  held  her  during  the  weary  morning 
absences  ? 

One  afternoon,  feeling  tired,  she  threw  herself  down 
on  the  lounge,  and  he  came  and  sat  beside  her,  with  her 
hand  in  his.  She  lay  back  on  the  pillow  with  a  half 
smile  breaking  over  her  lips,  one  hand  over  her  heart, 
looking  into  his  eyes  with  eyes  that  were  filled  with  so 
much  exaltation,  that  John  felt  an  awe  in  touching  her, 
she  seemed  so  far  removed  from  the  things  of  the 
world,  so  hallowed  by  the  light  of  things  unknowable. 
They  were  sitting  in  silence,  each  meeting  the  other's 
mood,  when  there  came  the  sound  of  galloping  horse, 

335 


336  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

the  quick  flinging  open  of  the  gate,  and  hurrying  steps 
along  the  walk. 

Each  guessed  by  the  other's  face  what  had  hap 
pened. 

"  It  is  from  headquarters  —  General  Wallace  has 
been  defeated,"  she  said,  even  before  he  could 
speak. 

He  shook  his  head  incredulously,  but  his  face  was 
blank  as  he  ran  downstairs  to  receive  the  despatches. 
By  the  tread  of  his  step  as  he  returned,  she  knew  what 
had  happened  —  if  only  it  could  have  waited  a  few 
days !  Then  as  he  entered  with  troubled  brow,  holding 
the  orders  in  his  hand,  she  looked  up  faintly,  and  said, 
"  Well,  John,  I  was  right,  was  I  not  ? " 

"  Wallace  has  been  repulsed  at  Frederick,  and  Wash 
ington  and  Baltimore  are  threatened.  It  means  we  must 
clear  out  the  storehouses  at  once.  Nothing  must  fall 
into  the  enemy's  hands." 

"  Is  it  so  bad  as  that  ?  Oh,  John,  I  have  been  afraid 
something  would  happen." 

He  crushed  the  papers  unconsciously  in  his  fingers, 
sat  down  on  the  lounge  at  her  side  and  took  her  hand. 
At  that  moment  he  would  have  renounced  everything  to 
stay  with  her. 

"  No,  no,  John,"  she  said,  shaking  her  head,  as  she  saw 
his  rebellious  expression.  "  It  is  hard,  dear,  just  now, 
but  if  you  must,  you  must.  Think  of  what  other  women 
are  enduring  to-day.  Do  you  think  I  cannot  be  brave, 
too,  when  you're  away  ?  It  will  only  be  a  few  hours, 
dear." 

"  It  means  I  must  leave  you  immediately.  We  must 
load  everything  on  the  transports  and  the  railroads.  It 
will  be  eleven  o'clock,  perhaps  midnight,  before  I  can 
return." 


ARROWS  OF  THE   ALMIGHTY  337 

"  Never  mind,  John,"  she  whispered,  trembling ;  "your 
enemies  are  waiting  for  just  such  a  chance.  You  must 
give  them  no  opportunity.  You  must  see  to  everything 
yourself.  If  you  must  stay  all  night,  do  it." 

He  bent  down  and  placed  his  cheek  against  her  shoul 
der,  and  when  he  raised  it  again  it  was  wet  with  the  tears 
that  blurred  his  sight,  and  he  said,  shaking  his  head 
gently,  "Marjory,  I  do  not  think  there  is  another 
woman  like  you  in  the  whole  wide  world." 

"What  nonsense!  you  are  just  like  all  the  rest  of 
them."  But  she  stirred  with  pleasure,  and  putting  her 
arms  around  his  neck,  she  added,  "  But  I  like  you  to 
say  it." 

When  he  was  gone,  and  she  had  heard  him  in  turn  close 
the  door,  pass  down  the  walk,  click  the  gate  twice,  and 
his  footsteps  had  faded  away  up  the  street,  she  put  her 
hand  quickly  to  her  eyes  and  broke  into  a  storm  of 
weeping.  It  was  not  his  absence  that  she  minded  so 
much  —  to  miss  his  sympathy,  and  the  thousand  and 
one  little  attentions  of  his  solicitous  love,  not  these,  hard 
though  it  was  to  resign  them ;  it  was  to  feel  again  the 
sickening  dread,  to  tremble  hour  after  hour,  starting  at 
every  step  for  some  message  of  disaster,  wondering,  each 
time  he  left,  if  she  had  looked  on  his  face  for  the  last 
time.  In  her  critical  condition  her  fears  had  almost 
unbalanced  her  mind. 

Three  days  before,  despite  John's  precautions,  she 
had  learned  from  Sarah  of  the  assassination  of  Lieu 
tenant  Taft,  and  had  fainted  dead  away.  The  horror 
worked  on  her  by  day  and  by  night;  she  saw  in  it 
nothing  but  the  first  step  of  a  conspiracy  that  would 
never  stop  until  it  had  accomplished  the  death  of  her 
husband.  She  was  tortured  with  terrible  nightmares, 
dreams  that  lingered  with  her  into  the  morning  or  started 


338  ARROWS  OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

up  again  the  moment  her  weary  eyes  had  closed,  and 
with  these  spectres  came  a  hundred  premonitions,  vague 
and  inconsistent,  but  real. 

Now  that  he  had  gone  again,  even  the  silence  seemed 
to  cry  out  an  omen.  At  last,  unable  longer  to  bear  the 
solitude,  she  called  Sarah  and  made  the  old  negress  sit 
with  her  until  four  o'clock,  when  Mrs.  Kail  arrived,  a 
kindly  little  body  who  was  to  take  care  of  her.  Then, 
seized  with  a  sinking  premonition,  and  no  longer  capable 
of  withstanding  the  suspense,  she  sent  Sarah  with  a 
message  to  John  —  a  message  invented  solely  that  the 
servant  might  bring  news  of  what  her  eyes  had  per 
ceived.  It  seemed  to  her  that  the  old  woman  would 
never  return.  She  rose  and  strayed  from  room  to  room, 
pressing  her  face  against  the  panes.  She  went  down 
stairs  and  wandered  to  the  gate.  She  touched  the  keys 
of  the  piano,  idly  striving  to  play.  Then  she  glanced 
at  the  clock.  It  took  John  twenty  minutes  to  go  to 
the  office.  She  calculated  that  Sarah  ought  to  return  in 
an  hour  and  ten  minutes.  When  that  limit  had  passed, 
she  went  to  her  room  again,  to  the  couch,  and  lay  there 
motionless,  almost  suffocating.  She  grasped  the  hand  of 
Mrs.  Kail,  and  poured  the  story  into  her  sympathetic  ears, 
for  she  felt  she  would  go  mad  unless  she  could  tell  some 
one. 

When  at  last  Sarah  came  lumbering  up  the  stairs,  she 
began  to  tremble  so  that  Mrs.  Kail,  to  save  her  the 
anguish  of  suspense,  called  out,  "  Well,  Sarah,  did  you 
see  Colonel  Gaunt  ? " 

"  Yes'm,"  drawled  Sarah,  shuffling  in  out  of  breath ; 
"  he  gimme  dis  yere  letter  to  fetch  you." 

Marjory  sat  up  eagerly,  clutched  the  note,  and  ran 
through  the  precious  writing.  It  was  a  message  full 
of  love  and  courage.  She  sank  back  with  a  sigh.  She 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  339 

could  hardly  believe  it :  the  shadow  of  death  had  passed 
so  near  her  heart. 

Mrs.  Kail  glanced  at  her  curiously,  motioned  to  Sarah, 
wrote  a  few  directions  on  a  slip,  and  sent  them  to  a  phar 
macy  ;  for  Marjory's  cheeks  were  beginning  to  flush  and 
her  eyes  to  grow  bright  with  excitement,  as  she  thought 
how  futile  it  had  been  to  send  an  inquiry  in  the  after 
noon,  when  there  could  be  no  danger;  and  saying  to 
herself  that  she  should  have  waited  until  after  supper, 
she  was  soon  again  roaming  nervously  about  the  house. 

Supper  over,  Mrs.  Kail  prevailed  upon  her  to  go  to 
bed,  and  drew  the  curtains  and  brought  in  the  lamp. 
Two  hours  dragged  slowly  by,  Marjory  starting  at  every 
strike  of  the  clock,  inquiring  the  hour,  catching  every 
sound  in  the  street,  listening  to  every  footstep  —  so  that 
Mrs.  Kail  in  pity  had  twice  gone  down  the  stairs  and 
out  to  the  gate  to  search  the  street.  When  at  another 
single  ring  of  the  clock  Mrs.  Kail  informed  her  that  it 
was  half-past  ten,  Marjory  gave  her  a  frightened  glance 
and  closed  her  eyes,  as  her  lips  moved  in  prayer — for 
it  was  the  exact  hour  of  Lieutenant  Taft's  assassi 
nation. 

All  at  once  she  sat  up  with  a  little  cry.  Her  waiting 
ear  had  detected  the  slight  click  of  the  gate.  The  next 
moment  came  the  step  and  the  whistle  she  knew  so  well. 
She  sank  back  with  a  deep  sigh,  and  made  a  sign  to 
Mrs.  Kail  to  leave  her,  then  stopped  her  at  the  door  and 
had  her  put  out  the  lamp.  She  had  suffered  so  keenly 
that  she  feared  to  have  him  see  her  face. 

As  he  came  up  the  stairs  his  tread  softened  as  he 
saw  that  her  room  was  in  darkness. 

"  I  am  awake,  John,"  she  called,  "  but  the  light  tired 
my  eyes.  Come  and  sit  by  my  side  in  the  dark." 

He  sat  down  and  took  her  hands  and  stroked  them 


340  ARROWS   OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

gently,  and  away  fell  all  the  anguish  of  the  afternoon, 
as  a  sick  child  begins  to  mend  at  the  first  touch  of  the 
doctor's  hand. 

"  What  a  difference  it  makes  when  you  come,  John," 
she  whispered,  seeking  his  face  with  her  fingers.  "  You 
are  so  big  and  strong,  and  there  is  so  much  strength  in 
the  touch  of  your  hand." 

They  were  alone,  enveloped  in  the  darkness,  only 
their  hands  touching,  and  all  the  world,  sense,  sight,  and 
sound,  was  gone.  Just  they  were  left  —  a  man  and  a 
woman  —  a  soul  and  a  soul.  She  caught  his  hand  in 
her  little  strength,  and  placed  it  under  her  cheek.  Then 
all  at  once  the  tension  of  the  day  snapped,  and  weak 
under  the  strength  of  his  arms,  she  broke  down,  and  her 
hot  tears  fell  upon  his  hand. 

"  Oh,  John,  John  !  Don't,  don't  worry  over  me,"  she 
cried;  "say  you  won't.  It's  nothing  —  nothing  at  all. 
I  am  so  weak  I  can't  control  it ;  let  me  cry.  It  will  do 
me  good." 

"  Yes,  I  think  it  will ;  cry  away,  little  woman,"  he 
said  tenderly.  He  slipped  one  arm  under  her,  and  be 
gan  to  speak  in  his  quiet,  even  voice,  until  gradually 
her  shaken  nerves  were  soothed.  After  a  while  she 
laid  her  fingers  across  his  lips,  as  she  had  done  on  the 
night  of  their  betrothal. 

"  There  —  it  has  passed.  Sit  quietly  by  me  and  hold 
me  close.  Oh,  John,  what  a  wonderful  page  we  are 
turning  in  the  great  Book  of  Life  !  It  is  overwhelming ; 
I — I  cannot  understand." 

She  lay  quietly  in  his  arms  for  a  while,  until  at  last 
she  said,  running  her  fingers  caressingly  through  his 
hair,  "John  —  if  anything  should  happen,  you  will  be 
brave,  won't  you,  dear? — and  remember,  I  shall  always 
be  watching  over  you  —  and  waiting." 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  341 

He  could  give  no  answer,  but  his  arms  tightened,  as 
though  to  hold  her  to  him  forever.  Then  feeling  how 
deeply  the  thought  cut  into  his  soul,  she  said,  trying  to 
laugh :  "  That's  only  a  foolish,  weak  little  idea,  such  as 
all  women  must  have  at  such  times,  don't  you  know, 
John  ?  Never  fear,  my  beloved,  nothing  shall  happen  ; 
it  is  a  promise.  And  now  don't  say  a  word,  just  let  me 
think." 

He  did  as  she  asked.  He  put  out  his  hand  and 
smoothed  her  forehead  gently.  How  holy  she  seemed 
as  she  lay  there  silent,  throbbing  with  all  the  wonder 
of  the  mother  that  was  to  be.  At  length  she  put  her 
arm  around  his  neck,  and  drew  his  head  down  to  her 
lips,  whispering,  "  I  am  so  drowsy ;  stay  with  me  until 
I  fall  asleep.  Oh,  my  husband  —  to-morrow,  maybe, 
we  shall  be  three." 

She  soon  drifted  into  a  light  slumber.  He  waited 
awhile,  listening  to  the  gentle  rise  and  fall  of  her  breast, 
then  quietly  began  to  withdraw  his  arm  from  under  her. 
She  moved  restlessly  in  her  sleep,  muttering  plaintively, 
"  No,  no,  not  just  yet,"  and  her  fingers  tightened  about 
his  hand.  He  waited  a  moment  longer,  and  then  softly 
disengaged  the  nerveless  grasp,  and  tiptoed  from  the 
room. 

Once  in  the  night  he  heard  her  cry  out,  and,  hurry 
ing  to  her  side,  found  her  trembling  and  cold. 

"  Oh,  such  a  dream  —  such  a  dream ! "  she  cried, 
clutching  his  arm.  "Oh,  it  is  too  cruel  to  torture  me 
so!" 

"  See ;  here  I  am,  little  woman,"  he  cried.  "  Tell  me 
what  it  was." 

She  came  out  of  the  stupor  slowly,  and  when  she 
realized  he  was  there,  she  muttered  hurriedly  :  "  A  night 
mare,  that's  all ;  something  terrible,  I  can't  remember 


342  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

what.  There,  let  me  down,  and  don't  think  me  a  very 
foolish  woman.  It  was  so  real." 

It  seemed  that  he  had  hardly  dropped  asleep  when 
he  was  suddenly  brought  to  his  feet  by  a  peal  of  bells. 
He  looked  at  his  watch ;  it  was  half-past  five.  Other 
bells  began  to  clamor  in  various  quarters  of  the  city, 
then  came  the  shrill  whistle  of  steamers  and  the  deeper 
shriek  of  the  engines.  He  looked  out.  People  were 
throwing  up  their  windows  and  staring  up  and  down ; 
some  were  already  running  along  the  sidewalks.  His 
first  thought  was,  "The  city  is  attacked."  He  turned 
and  hurried  into  his  clothes.  When  he  stepped  to  her 
door,  Marjory,  worn  out  by  her  troubled  night,  was  still 
unconscious. 

"How  quietly  she  sleeps,"  he  thought,  bending  over 
her.  "  No ;  I  must  not  wake  her." 

He  stopped  a  moment  and  glanced  about  thought 
fully.  Then  he  stepped  to  the  desk,  wrote  her  a  mes 
sage  on  a  slip  of  paper,  and  pinned  it  at  the  foot  of  her 
bed,  where  she  would  see  it  as  soon  as  she  waked.  At 
the  foot  of  the  bed  he  lingered,  gazing  down  at  her.  An 
irresistible  wave  of  emotion  swept  over  him,  and  he  fell 
upon  his  knees  at  her  side.  It  was  not  a  prayer ;  it  was 
an  instinctive  reverence  to  the  deepest  and  holiest  thing 
that  had  ever  come  into  his  life. 

He  hurried  through  the  waking  city  to  his  office, 
stopping  there  only  long  enough  to  glance  through 
his  mail.  One  letter,  in  Jack's  well-known  scrawl, 
he  singled  out  and  thrust  into  his  pocket.  The  next 
moment  he  was  out  in  the  open  air  again,  hurrying  to 
the  warehouses. 

The  newsboys  were  howling  their  papers  filled  with 
rumors  of  disaster.  Wallace  was  in  full  retreat,  and 
the  Confederates  were  even  now  within  striking  distance 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  343 

of  Baltimore,  burning  and  pillaging  as  they  came.  Gov 
ernor  Bradford  and  Mayor  Chapman  had  issued  proc 
lamations  for  the  fortification  and  defence  of  the  city. 
Wherever  he  turned,  the  streets  were  choked  with 
volunteers  thronging  to  the  Calvert  Street  headquarters, 
ranging  from  young  men  to  veterans  of  the  Mexican 
War,  some  rushing  to  be  armed,  a  few  with  whatever 
weapons  they  had  snatched  up.  At  one  corner  a  crowd 
of  men  were  forming  companies,  impressing  the  by 
standers  into  service.  Mounted  policemen  rode  hither 
and  thither,  herding  negroes,  and  marching  them  off  to 
build  barricades;  horses  were  being  seized  in  every 
street,  couriers  were  galloping  from  one  section  to  the 
other.  It  was  a  scene  to  confuse  the  eye,  a  running 
babel  of  sound. 

John  had  received  his  orders  for  the  emergency  on 
Saturday.  He  reached  the  storehouses  to  find  the 
same  wild  rush.  Men  were  swarming  out  the  doors 
laden  with  boxes  and  bundles  in  one  unceasing  stream 
over  the  docks  and  up  the  gangways.  All  night  long 
the  work  of  securing  the  stores  had  gone  on,  and  still  but 
half  was  done.  He  went  the  round  of  the  storehouses, 
stirring  up  the  men  to  greater  efforts,  inspecting  every 
department,  issuing  orders,  receiving  reports,  forward 
ing  assistance.  He  visited  every  steamer  and  saw  that 
it  had  steam  up,  ready  to  run  out  at  a  -moment's  notice. 
He  left  the  wharves  to  inspect  the  loading  of  cars,  and 
called  on  railroad  officials  and  arranged  for  special 
trains.  By  impressing  men  into  service,  he  doubled  his 
force;  he  was  here  one  hour,  and  at  the  farthest  end 
of  the  city  the  next,  everywhere  exhorting,  command 
ing,  inspiring.  Rumor  after  rumor  rolled  in.  It  was 
even  said  that  the  advance  of  the  Confederates  could  be 
seen  from  the  Monument.  It  was  three  o'clock  before 


344  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

more  reassuring  reports  were  received,  and  then  John, 
sitting  astride  a  bale  of  hay,  with  a  hogshead  for  a  table, 
drew  out  Jack's  letter  and  read  it  over  a  cup  of  steam 
ing  coffee. 

"CAMP 

"  YOUR  EXCELLENCY  :  — 

"J.  H.  and  Dick  did  full  justice  to  your  last  box,  and  the  papers 
have  been  worn  through.  They  don't  waste  much  time  on  Yank's 
amusement,  my  boy,  down  here.  We  have  been  lying  around  here 
for  the  last  few  weeks,  swearing  with  the  combined  strength  of  the 
company  at  the  old  man  who  keeps  us  here  out  of  the  forward  move 
ment.  The  men  are  '  spilin'  for  a  fight,'  and  don't  understand  why  the 
Department  doesn't  take  their  muzzles  off.  For  God's  sake,  John, 
can't  you  hang  up  a  few  of  these  contractors  ?  We  have  been  swindled 
and  robbed  until  we  don't  dare  call  our  teeth  our  own.  Our  uniforms 
are  so  rotten  that  they  drop  off  our  backs,  but  they're  nothing  to  the 
meat  and  provisions  we  get.  The  mules  are  blind  and  lame,  and 
the  wagons  break  down  if  you  attempt  to  load  them.  The  way  those 
harpies  fleece  us  is  something  fearful.  Can't  you  shoot  a  few*? 

"  Dick  is  doing  splendidly,  is  now  a  lieutenant  —  bravery  in  action 
at  Gettysburg  —  charged  down  and  took  colors  in  the  Wheat  Field. 
Everybody  likes  him. 

"  And  now  to  the  p'oint  of  this  letter.  I  have  news  for  you  that 
will  strike  you  dumb.  Tuesday  the  outpost  of  our  command  cap 
tured  a  couple  of  rebel  spies,  who  were  trying  to  return  through  our 
lines.  As  they  marched  the  prisoners  through  the  camp  I  came  out 
of  my  tent.  John,  you  could  have  struck  me  dead  when  I  looked 
up  and  saw  that  villain,  Captain  Brace,  yes,  Captain  Brace !  He 
looked  at  me  coolly,  and  very  blank  at  first,  until  he  saw  I  knew  him 
in  spite  of  his  beard;  then  he  gave  a  shrug  of  his  shoulders,  and 
said,  '  Well,  Jack,  we  meet  again.' 

"  They  said  at  the  court-martial  he  showed  a  lot  of  grit,  and  when 
he  saw  the  thing  was  sure  to  go  against  him,  he  came  out  flat,  and 
owned  up,  and  begged  to  be  shot  like  a  soldier,  and  got  it. 

"  I  was  picked  out  with  a  file  of  my  men  to  do  the  shooting.  I 
tried  to  get  out  of  the  job,  but  couldn't.  He  walked  along  steadily, 
•  without  the  least  sign  of  fear,  so  that  down  in  my  heart  I  couldn't 
help  admiring  the  fellow's  pluck.  When  we  got  to  the  ground,  he 
looked  about  curiously  a  moment,  held  out  his  hand  and  shook  mine, 
and  said,  quite  matter-of-fact :  (  Well,  Jack,  you've  got  the  best  of  me 


345 

in  che  end.     Damn  me  if  I  ever  expected  this.     I  don't  complain  — 
I've  lived  game,  and  I  guess  I  can  die  the  same.' 

«  Then  he  added,  with  a  kind  of  a  laugh  :  '  What  a  pity  John  isn't 
in  your  place.  I  fancy  he'd  enjoy  it.  Well,  au  revoir,  and  wish  you 
better  luck  than  this.'  Then  the  boys  shot  him  down  dead. 

"  How  the  above  will  shock  you  !  IVe  felt  queer  ever  since.  Well, 
John,  old  boy,  Jack  is  proud  of  you.  He  likes  to  see  you  rising  up 
where  you  belong.  God  bless  you,  I  say,  and  the  best  of  luck  to 
you.  You'll  remember  me,  of  course,  to  the  Missus,  and  tell  her 
whenjhis  cruel  war  is  over,  if  I  have  a  whole  skin,  I'll  give  her  the 
history  of  your  illustrious  youth.  Well,  good-by,  and  bless  you 
again,  old  fellow.  I  hate  to  close,  for  to  be  writing  to  you,  don't 
you  see,  is  like  being  up  in  the  old  quarters  again,  among  the  pets, 
swinging  my  legs  over  the  desk,  and  chattering  away  to  you  in  my 
usual  foolish  fashion.  By  the  way,  Rags  is  still  with  us,  Providence 
having  preserved  his  skin  too.  Dick  sends  love  to  Marjory  and 
you.  Good-by  once  more,  old  Johnnie  Glum. 

"  Yours  in  Auld  Lang  Syne,  JACK. 

"  N.B.  —  Have  used  some  of  that  money  you  lent  Dick  and  me  — 
I  knew  your  purpose  from  the  beginning.  It  helped  us  out  of  a 
tight  pinch. 

"  P.S.  —  Bad  as  a  woman.  Suppose  you  see,  by  what  goes  before, 
that  they've  made  Jack  a  lieutenant  —  well,  it's  true. 

«  VALE." 

When  John  had  read  this  letter  he  fell  into  such  a 
revery  that  the  sergeant  who  came  up  for  orders  was 
forced  to  cough  discreetly  before  he  gained  his  atten 
tion.  Then  a  score  of  demands  moved  in  upon  him, 
and  for  two  hours  he  had  time  for  nothing  else.  It  was 
dusk  before  he  could 'arrange  the  affairs  of  the  depart 
ment  and  tear  himself  away,  with  orders  to  summon  him 
by  courier  in  case  of  urgent  need. 

The  streets  were  swept  by  crowds  hurrying  to  the 
Camden  Street  Depot  where  the  trains  with  the  wounded 
were  beginning  to  arrive.  A  regiment  of  volunteers  in 
nondescript  uniforms  were  defiling  noisily  down  the 
avenue  as  he  passed.  Carriages  and  laden  trucks  were 


346  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

jolting  over  the  cobblestones  in  deafening  confusion, 
men  were  hallooing  to  each  other  across  the  crowd, 
shouting  warnings  and  rumors.  It  was  like  the  panic 
of  a  great  army.  Once  among  the  crowd  he  caught 
a  glimpse  of  a  short  stumpy  back  directly  in  front  of 
him,  which  was  so  like  Captain  Brace  that  he  was 
startled,  broke  step,  and  was  making  forward,  when  the 
man  turned  and  showed  his  profile.  The  incident  re 
called  Jack's  letter,  and  he  thought  of  Brace's  death 
with  a  shudder,  and  then  with  a  breath  of  relief.  The 
last  grim  link  that  bound  him  to  the  hopeless  past  was 
snapped.  In  his  heart  he  was  thankful  that  the  swin 
dler  had  not  fallen  into  his  hands. 

He  went  on  quickly  now;  he  could  hardly  restrain 
the  impulse  to  run.  He  turned  down  the  familiar  side 
street  and  saw  the  green  pillars  afar.  At  the  sight  of 
the  little  white  house  gleaming  ahead,  the  fret  and 
worry  of  the  grief-stricken  city,  the  discord  and  the 
strife,  the  pettiness  and  the  treachery,  fell  away  from 
him  like  the  casting  off  of  a  cloak.  But  another  year, 
and  their  home  would  be  a  home  in  reality.  He  was  at 
the  gate  now,  entering  quickly.  An  instinct  prompted 
him  to  look  back  up  the  street.  There  was  the  same 
slouch  figure  that  had  followed  him  night  after  night, 
wheeling  into  the  dusk. 

As  he  opened  the  door  Mrs.  Kail  came  quickly  down 
the  stairs,  with  a  finger  to  her  lips. 

"  Sh-h !  it  is  all  over.  It  is  a  girl.  We  sent  you  a 
message,  but  could  not  find  you." 

"  But  my  wife  ?  quick  !  " 

"  She  has  had  a  hard  time.  She  is  very  weak  and 
very  wrought  up.  Go  quietly." 

He  stole  noiselessly  up  the  steps,  and  said  from  the 
hall,  "  It  is  I,  Marjory." 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  347 

"Come  in,"  a  faint  voice  answered,  and  he  pushed 
through  the  door. 

The  doctor  was  standing  at  the  foot  of  the  bed,  but 
John  did  not  see  him.  He  was  looking  at  Marjory,  lying 
helpless  and  pallid,  the  color  of  the  sheets,  and  at  a  little 
bundle  that  lay  at  her  side. 

He  dropped  on  his  knees,  and  bowed  his  face  over  the 
weak  hand  on  the  coverlet,  and  cried  with  a  voice 
wrung  by  the  pinched  lines  in  her  face,  "  Oh,  my  poor 
wife,  why  couldn't  I  have  been  with  you  ?  Oh,  my  dear 
wife,  how  you  have  suffered !  " 

"  Hush,  dear,"  she  said  weakly.  "  It  is  nothing  now 
—  that  I  have  her."  She  tried  to  raise  her  hand,  but  it 
fell  back  helplessly. 

"There,  there,"  the  doctor  cried;  "you  must  lie 
perfectly  still." 

A  little  fist  closed  over  John's  finger,  and  he  looked 
down  into  two  staring  blue  eyes  full  of  the  mystery 
whence  they  came.  Then  his  gaze  went  back  to  the 
mother,  who  was  watching  him  with  eager,  happy  eyes. 
At  the  thought  of  the  pain  she  had  endured,  alone  and 
forlorn,  away  from  him,  he  rose  suddenly,  choking, 
and  went  to  the  window  and  put  his  arm  on  the  sill  and 
his  forehead  on  his  arm,  striving  to  control  the  tumult 
in  his  breast,  and  the  tears  that  drowned  his  sight. 

Then,  just  as  he  heard  for  the  first  time  a  tiny  voice 
uplifted  from  the  bed,  and  was  turning  from  the 
window;  just  as  the  doctor,  who  had  summoned  Mrs. 
Kail,  was  giving  her  some  parting  directions;  just  as 
Marjory,  with  a  smile  that  broke  through  the  gathering 
tears,  was  calling  him  to  her  side  —  there  was  a  sudden 
explosion,  a  crash  of  glass,  a  cry  from  Mrs.  Kail,  and 
John,  with  a  bullet  in  his  side,  stumbled  and  fell  headlong 
to  the  floor.  At  the  same  moment  came  a  shriek  from 


348  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

the  bed,  and  Marjory  sprang  up,  wavered,  and  then 
dropped  back  insensible. 

They  hurried  John  out  into  the  adjoining  room  and 
dressed  his  wound,  which  proved  not  to  be  serious.  An 
hour  later,  when  he  managed  to  totter  to  her  door,  they 
would  not  let  him  enter. 

"  Not  now,  Colonel,  not  now,"  the  doctor  cried,  bar 
ring  the  way  firmly.  "  Your  wife  has  been  in  a  critical 
condition  for  a  long  while,  and  the  shock  has  been  a 
hard  one." 

He  caught  the  banisters,  he  clutched  the  doctor's 
arm,  he  sought  to  read  the  truth  in  his  face  with  eyes 
that  were  wild  with  a  sudden  fear. 

"  No,  no  —  great  God !  What  do  you  mean  ?  You 
are  hiding  it  from  me.  For  God's  sake,  don't  torture 
me,  Doctor  !  What  is  it  ?  What  has  happened  ?  She 
—  she  —  is  not  —  dead  ?  " 

"  Not  dead  —  no,  Colonel,"  the  doctor  answered, 
forcing  him  gently  away ;  "  she  —  she  is  —  she  has  lost 
her  mind." 

At  that  very  moment  below,  the  door  opened,  and  the 
voice  of  a  courier  was  heard  crying  pantingly  to  Sarah, 
"  Send  Colonel  Gaunt  to  headquarters  at  once !  " 


CHAPTER   XXXV 

IN  late  March  of  the  year  1871,  a  small  military 
figure  disengaged  himself  from  the  crowd  and  clamor 
of  Broadway,  and  marching  rapidly  through  Twentieth 
Street,  reached  the  quiet  precincts  of  Gramercy  Park. 
Arrived  there,  the  twirling  cane  all  at  once  subsidtd  into 
a  lazy  swing,  the  brisk  step  was  broken  for  a  more 
reflective  saunter,  and  a  thumb  and  finger  went  up 
to  the  sweeping  mustaches  —  a  captain's,  at  the  very 
least !  He  looked  along  the  houses,  curiously  selecting 
his  number,  and  then,  with  a  sudden  sweep  of  his  cane, 
ran  up  a  flight  of  brown  stone  steps,  down  which  at 
that  instant  a  messenger  was  whistling  his  way. 

The  maid,  seeing  the  newcomer,  held  the  door  open 
and  said  inquiringly,  "  Major  Hazard,  is  it  ? " 

"  Major  Hazard  it  is,"  cried  Jack,  throwing  off  his 
gloves  and  surrendering  hat  and  cane.  "  The  general 
upstairs  ? " 

"In  the  lib'ry,  sir,  the  next  flure,  in  front,  to  your 
right.  He  said  as  how  he  was  expectin'  ye." 

"  Very  well,  Anna —  or  Katie,  which  is  it  ?  " 

"  Anna,  sir." 

"Anna,  then;  knew  it  was  one  or  the  other.  The 
trunk  will  be  here  directly." 

He  tripped  up  the  stairs,  stole  along  the  hall,  opened 
the  door  without  a  creak,  and  stepped  into  the  high 
library.  Two  figures  were  camped  upon  the  hearth 
rugs,  their  backs  to  him,  poring  over  a  book  by  the 

349 


350  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

wavering  firelight,  a  gray  head  and  a  golden  one  very 
near  together. 

For  a  space  the  major  waited,  watching  the  picture  ; 
then  he  turned,  closed  the  door  with  a  click,  and  cried, 
"  To  arms,  my  lads !  General,  the  major  is  ready  to 
report." 

At  the  sound  of  his  voice  the  little  girl  bounded  from 
the  rug  with  a  cry,  and  then  stopped  shyly,  clinging  to 
the  sleeve  of  her  father,  who  had  risen  slowly  and  come 
forward  with  outstretched  hand. 

Jack  thought  to  himself,  "  John,  old  fellow,  they'd 
give  me  ten  years  the  best  of  it,  any  day,"  for  his  friend's 
head  was  almost  gray,  and  the  lines  about  the  strong 
cheek-bones  were  rigid  and  deep.  He  was  smiling  a 
welcome,  but  in  that  smile  there  was  more  of  sadness 
than  in  the  repose  of  the  face. 

"  Well,  Jack,  have  you  sent  the  trunk  around  ?  It'll 
be  rather  dismal  here  for  you,  I'm  afraid." 

"  Lord  bless  you,  John  Gaunt !  If  I  can't  put  you 
in  good  spirits,  well,  it'll  be  the  first  time  I've  failed. 
Come,  come,  where  are  your  manners  ?  Aren't  you 
going  to  present  me  to  the  Duchess  ? " 

"This  is  Emily  —  my  little  girl,"  the  father  said, 
drawing  out  a  giggler  from  behind  his  back,  "  and  this 
is  your  Uncle  Jack,  the  best  friend  in  the  world." 

'•'  H'm  !  monstrous  fib !  What  did  you  say  her  name 
was?  Emily?  I  prefer  the  Duchess."  And  going 
gallantly  down  on  one  knee,  as  a  duchess  should  be 
approached,  the  major  took  the  little  hand  and  raised  it 
to  his  lips. 

"  Behold !  Aha !  "  he  cried  in  a  challenging  tone,  and 
drawing  forth  a  package  of  sugarplums,  he  offered  it  to 
the  child  with  a  face  of  amusing  wonder. 

"  Is  Uncle  Jack   coming  to  stay  ? "  the  little  minx 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  351 

cried,  with   shrieks   of   rapture.      "Oh   goody,  goody 

it   i*  oyoy/ 

goody ! 

"  So  you're  glad  Uncle  Jack's  going  to  stay,  Duchess?" 
the  major  asked,  with  a  chuckle,  pulling  her  up  to  his 
knees.  "  More  sugarplums,  eh  ?  " 

Emily  stole  a  sly  look  into  his  face  with  her  big,  calcu 
lating,  light-blue  eyes,  then,  as  though  apparently  satis 
fied  with  her  power,  she  bobbed  her  head  vigorously, 
speech  being  then  impossible. 

"  The  little  rascal !  So  that's  all  you  want  of  Uncle 
Jack!" 

The  eyes  fairly  sparkled  with  mischief. 

"Very  well,  Duchess,"  —  the  major  gave  an  exagger 
ated  scowl,  —  "  I'll  have  the  general  confiscate  the  candy 
at  once ! " 

"  No,  he  won't!  "  the  little  tyrant  managed  to  enunciate, 
with  a  shake  of  her  curls. 

"Won't?" 

"  I'm  father's  pet,"  continued  the  child,  reaching  for 
another  bonbon,  and  jouncing  on  his  knee,  "and  he 
does  just  what  I  want  — yes,  he  does !  " 

"  Lord  bless  you,  child  ! "  said  Jack,  looking  beyond 
her,  "  I  believe  he  does,  and  so  would  I.  There,  run 
along  to  your  father.  John,  take  her  back,  and  hand 
over  a  receipt.  I  swear,"  he  added,  watching  the 
sudden  change  in  the  father's  face,  "you're  jealous 
every  moment  your  darling's  away,  even  of  your  old 
friend  Jack." 

"  Maybe  I  am,"  John  said  solemnly,  as  he  gathered 
the  child  on  his  lap.  "Yes,  I  am.  She's  everything 
to  me  now." 

"  She'll  grow  up,  and  what  then  ? " 

John  waved  his  hand.  "Ten  years;  that's  a  long 
way  off." 


352  ARROWS  OF,  THE   ALMIGHTY 

"Tut,  tut,"  Jack  broke  out;  "to  hear  you  talk,  I'd 
think  you  had  one  foot  in  the  grave.  Come  now,  a 
man's  young  at  twenty-six,"  he  added,  with  a  slap 
to  his  chest. 

"  Twenty-six  ? "  said  John,  elevating  one  eyebrow. 

"Twenty-six  or  thirty-six,  Methuselah,  what  does  it 
matter  ? "  exclaimed  Jack,  with  a  wave  of  his  hand, 
satisfied  now  that  his  object  was  attained.  He  drew 
his  chair  up  before  the  fire  where  John  and  Emily 
already  were  installed,  and  stirred  the  embers,  lighting 
up  the  dark  recesses  of  the  room. 

"  Ah,  that  feels  good  —  like  the  old  rooms  in  Cleve 
land,  isn't  it  ?  "  He  threw  himself  back  into  the  low 
chair,  and  took  out  and  lighted  a  cigar.  "  By  the  way, 
forgot  to  tell  you  I  met  your  cousin  Nell  last  night." 

"  Mrs.  Blackstock  ?  "  John's  gaze  for  a  moment  left 
the  fire.  "  Yes,  she's  in  New  York.  I  have  seen  a 
good  deal  of  her  lately." 

"  It  was  at  a  party  at  an  old  army  friend's  I  saw  her. 
She's  a  widow  ? " 

"  No,  divorced,"  replied  John,  shortly.  "  Blackstock 
gave  her  a  pretty  hard  time  of  it :  lots  of  money  and 
position,  but  a  thorough  scoundrel.  I  suspected  him  of 
some  pretty  close  work  in  Baltimore,  but  could  never 
quite  lay  my  hands  on  him.  Nell's  been  very  kind  to 
me  here." 

"  Remarkably  clever  woman,  I  should  say,"  added 
Jack,  with  a  wise  nod ;  "  as  far  as  my  humble  knowl 
edge  extends.  Rather  haughty  style,  but  had  all  the 
men  about  her.  She  insisted  upon  talking  to  me  when 
she  found  out  who  I  was.  But  there's  something  queer 
about  her ;  now  what  is  it  ?  I  was  watching  her  pretty 
close  last  night,  and  I  say,  do  you  know  what  I've 
made  up  my  mind  to  ?  " 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  353 

"  No,"  said  John,  absently,  his  glance  returning  to 
the  deep  of  the  fire,  the  glowing  cafions,  the  miniature 
valleys  and  mountains,  the  buried  fiery  cities.  "  No, 
what  ? " 

"  Well,  I  think  she's  got  some  fatal  disease,  probably 
consumption  ;  she  doesn't  look  earthly." 

"  What  nonsense,  Jack !  She  has  a  good  deal  of 
color,  that's  all,  and  very  bright  eyes." 

"  No,  no,  it  isn't  that,"  said  Jack,  obstinately ;  "  it's 
not  so  much  the  way  she  looks,  as  the  way  she  makes 
me  feel.  Can't  explain.  Just  a  notion,  you  know ;  I 
have  a  lot  of  them  —  always  had.  What  do  you  hear 
from  Cleveland  ? " 

"  Mrs.  Wingate  and  I  have  never  agreed,  as  you 
know,"  said  John  ;  "  and  since  the  senator's  death,  I 
don't  hear  much  from  there.  The  Blodgetts  are  here." 

"  What !  old  Samuel  C  ? " 

"  No;  S.  Cadmus  —  they're  starting  in  for  New  York 
society.  Florrie  is  the  belle  now;  she's  grown  into  a 
fine  woman.  That's  the  way  it  goes  in  this  country." 

"  Florrie  and  I  were  always  sweethearts,"  cried  Jack, 
with  a  teasing  glance  at  Emily.  "  I'll  go  around  and 
recall  myself.  And  the  three  sisters  ?  " 

"  Married  long  ago  —  can't  remember  to  whom  —  " 

"  Hello,"  said  Jack,  with  a  cough,  "  they  consoled 
themselves,  then.  Oh,  about  you  I  say  nothing,  but  I 
did  think  Phemie  could  not  forget  me  so  soon.  Ahem ! 
I  say,  John,  what  a  night  that  was  when  we  first  dined 
there!  Weren't  they  just  going  it,  though,  when  we 
came  in?  Well,  well  —  I  suppose  the  old  man  made 
his  pile  during  the  war  ? " 

"  Yes,  he  had  big  contracts,  but  I  think  he  acted 
fairly  by  us." 

"  I  say,  John,  this  is  like  old  times,"  said  Jack,  keep- 


354  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

ing  up  the  cheer  with  another  log.  "  It  does  me  good 
to  talk  of  the  old  friends.  How  we  do  scatter  in  our 
old  age  !  You  abroad,  and  then  here,  Dick  in  California, 
and  Jack  everywhere." 

"  But  that's  done  with  now,"  John  broke  in,  facing 
him.  "  You're  going  to  settle  down  here  with  the  old 
chum,  in  the  old  way." 

"  For  a  while,  anyhow,"  answered  Jack,  looking  at 
him  curiously.  "  It  is  good  to  rest.  What  a  rover  I 
have  been  since  we  broke  up  !  "  He  put  out  his  hands 
before  the  fire  and  smiled  a  smile  of  satisfaction.  The 
father  put  Emily  from  his  lap  and  whispered  something 
in  her  ear,  at  which  she  ran  off,  presently  returning  with 
a  guitar. 

"  Here,  Jack,  give  my  little  girl  some  of  your  old 
songs.  It's  just  right  for  music." 

"  Must  I,  Duchess? "  said  the  major,  taking  the  guitar. 

"Yes,  you  must,"  cried  that  young  lady,  with  an 
imperative  stamp  of  her  foot. 

"  Heigho,  there's  no  escape,  then."  Jack  made  a  long 
face.  "  Pull  down  the  curtains  and  shut  out  the  storm, 
and  I'll  begin." 

The  wind  was  rattling  the  panes  and  calling  down 
the  chimney.  Anna,  coming  in  at  this  moment  to  light 
the  lamps,  was  sent  away,  and  they  sat  on  in  the  dusk, 
their  faces  glowing  in  the  firelight.  John  drew  back  in 
the  low  arm-chair,  one  hand  covering  his  eyes,  and 
listened  dreamily  while  Jack  touched  the  strings  and 
sang  the  old  war-songs. 

He  sang  "Tramp,  tramp,  tramp,  the  boys  are  march 
ing,"  and  then  stopped  and  said :  "  That  always  brings 
back  Tom  Bayly.  How  he  used  to  make  the  air  ring 
with  it  around  the  camp-fire  !  He  died  almost  in  my 
arms.  Here,  I  won't  sing  those  songs.  They  bring 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  355 

back  too  many  things.  I'll  sing  something  else — > 
'  Annie  Laurie.' " 

He  had  sung  only  the  first  low  notes  when  there  came 
the  sound  of  light  footfalls  from  the  hall,  the  rustle  of 
a  skirt,  the  slight  click  of  the  opening  door.  John  was 
on  his  feet  in  a  moment,  Jack  sprang  from  his  chair, 
looked  up,  and  saw  —  Marjory !  She  stood  there  against 
the  dark  wall  in  a  loose  floating  garment,  a  gentle  smile 
on  her  face.  Emily,  crying  "  Why,  it's  mamma,"  ran  for 
ward  and  took  her  hand,  all  the  child's  imperious  ways 
gone,  as  she  stood  looking  up  with  wondering  eyes. 
When  John  slipped  his  arm  around  Marjory,  she  nodded 
a  little,  and  came  quickly  forward  out  of  the  shadow  into 
the  soft  focus  of  the  firelight,  so  that  the  major,  who 
was  trembling  like  a  leaf,  could  plainly  see  her  features. 
Nothing  seemed  to  have  changed.  There  were  few  lines 
in  her  face ;  the  thin,  sensitive  nose,  the  sweet  break  of 
the  lips,  and  the  flushing  cheeks  were  the  Marjory  of 
old,  but  it  was  as  though  an  eraser  had  passed  across 
the  eyes  and  left  them  empty  of  meaning. 

"She  will  not  know  you,"  said  John,  seeing  how  the 
guitar  shook  in  his  hand.  "  She  does  not  know  any  of 
us;  she  is  very  gentle  and  quiet,  but,"  he  added,  touch 
ing  his  forehead,  "  there  is  nothing  there." 

He  placed  her  in  his  arm-chair  and  made  her  com 
fortable,  drawing  her  feet  up  on  a  stool.  "She  likes 
to  follow  the  fire.  It  was  the  sound  of  the  music  that 
brought  her.  Play  some  more,  Jack." 

"  In  a  moment,  John,  in  a  moment,"  the  major  said. 
Emily,  coming  to  his  side,  whispered :  "  Mamma  is  ill ; 
you  mustn't  mind  it.  She's  going  to  get  over  it  soon,  if 
we  are  very  careful  of  her." 

Jack  put  the  guitar  down  and  went  to  the  window. 
He  stood  a  moment,  gazing  through  the  curtains  across 


356  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

the  gusty  clouds,  then  he  closed  them  and  came  and 
took  up  his  guitar,  and  struggled  bravely  through 
"Annie  Laurie." 

Marjory  sat  staring  into  the  fire  with  big,  dreamy 
eyes.  She  nodded  to  the  rhythm  of  the  strings,  and 
beat  the  time  with  her  slender  hand,  and  when  it  was 
over,  an  expression  of  delight  crossed  her  features,  and 
she  waited  eagerly,  turning  her  face  toward  the  player, 
like  a  little  child. 

Emily  came  and  stood  by  her  side,  and  took  the  slim 
white  hand  in  hers  and  pillowed  her  round  cheek  against 
it.  She  watched  over  her  slightest  movement,  eased  the 
cushions  overhead,  and  straightened  the  stool  beneath 
her  feet.  She  was  a  child  no  longer,  by  that  strange 
turn  of  Providence  become  a  little  mother. 

"  Hang  it,  I'm  so  hoarse  I  must  have  caught  cold," 
Jack  said  apologetically.  He  cleared  his  throat,  and 
tried  to  begin  another  song,  but  halfway  through  he 
saw  the  slender  hand  begin  to  beat  the  time,  and  the 
smile  returning  to  the  vacant  face.  He  stopped, 
his  voice  broke,  and  crying,  "  Oh,  John ! "  he  put 
down  the  guitar  suddenly  and  buried  his  face  in  his 
hands. 

"Jack,  don't,"  said  John  in  a  low  voice;  "it  is  almost 
more  than  I  can  bear." 

At  the  tone  of  his  voice  Jack  straightened  up  and 
went  to  the  table.  "  Here,  I'll  light  up ;  where  are  the 
matches  ? " 

Emily,  understanding  nothing  of  the  scene,  brought 
him  the  box,  and  in  a  moment  the  room  flashed  into 
light.  When  the  music  had  broken  off  an  expression 
of  bewilderment  had  passed  over  Marjory's  face,  and  as 
the  gas  flared  out  she  moved  uneasily. 

John  came  forward  and  turned  down  the  jets,  saying 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  357 

apologetically,  "  It  dazzles  her  when  it  is  so  bright. 
She  is  restless  now ;  I  will  give  her  Emily's  picture- 
books  to  look  at.  The  colors  catch  her  eye  and  seem  to 
amuse  her." 

He  brought  the  book  and  opened  it  on  Marjory's  lap. 
Her  eyes  immediately  lighted  up,  and  she  began  to 
roam  through  the  bright  pages  with  a  low  humming. 
Emily  came,  and,  standing  at  her  side,  turned  the  leaves 
and  pointed  out  the  pictured ;  the  men,  withdrawing  a 
few  steps,  watched  them. 

"  She  has  never  recognized  you,  John  ? " 

"  I  have  thought  she  did,  sometimes.  I'm  afraid  it 
was  because  I  wanted  to  believe  it.  No,  she  sees  every 
thing,  but  her  mind  is  a  blank.  Sometimes  I  think  she 
does  distinguish  Emily,  but  I  am  never  sure."  He 
stopped,  and  they  stood  in  silence  watching  the  two 
until  the  maid  came  up  to  announce  the  dinner. 

"What ! "  exclaimed  Jack,  when  they  were  at  the  table, 
cocking  his  eyes  at  the  rosy,  sparkling  Emily.  "  Hello, 
I  say,  does  the  Duchess  rule  everywhere  ? " 

The  child  giggled,  and  put  her  imperious  little  nose  an 
inch  or  so  higher  in  the  air,  with  a  twinkle  of  her  eyes 
in  the  direction  of  her  father. 

"  She  has  taken  her  meals  with  me  ever  since  she  was 
big  enough  to  keep  in  a  chair,  if  that's  what  you  mean," 
John  answered,  taking  the  soft  hand  in  his  big  rough 
one.  "  I  couldn't  sit  down  alone,  and  I  tried  to  make  it 
bright  for  the  young  one.  I  shall  have  so  much  to  tell 
her  mother  of  her,  some  day ;  for  you  know,  Jack,  I  have 
never  given  up  hope,"  John  said,  lowering  his  voice, 
"  and  I  never  shall ; "  and  there,  as  the  Duchess  was 
looking  questions,  the  conversation  ended. 

Jack  departing  to  pay  a  call,  John  and  Emily  went  to 
the  library,  where  they  built  impossible  houses  of  cards, 


358  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

and  demolished  them  in  a  breath,  played  a  game  of 
dominos  and  one  of  checkers  (each  of  which  he  had 
much  difficulty  in  losing),  and  took  a  journey  into  the 
land  of  the  "  Arabian  Nights."  At  eight,  the  inexorable 
clock  rang  out  the  retiring  hour. 

"  What,  already  ?  "  The  father  closed  the  book  with 
a  sigh.  "  No  more  for  the  night,  then." 

"Just  one  more,  a  short  one,"  begged  the  child,  with 
a  pout,  "  please  —  p-pleaset" 

The  father  put  the  book  away  and  rose,  saying, 
"  Come  on,  little  girl,  not  another  bit  to-night,  you  rascal." 

"  Shan't  go  !     I'll  read  it  myself." 

"  Emily ! " 

The  child  threw  one  shoulder  forward  in  protest. 

"  Emily  !     Are  you  going  to  disobey  me  ?  " 

There  was  a  slight  hesitation,  another  pout,  a  decided 
"Yes,  I  am!  "  and  then  Emily,  looking  up  and  catch 
ing  sight  of  her  father's  face,  suddenly  repented,  and 
came  flying  across  the  room,  crying,  "  Oh,  you  funny 
papa !  I  was  just  teasing  you." 

John  put  her  up  on  his  shoulder,  and  carried  her  thus 
up  the  stairs  and  to  her  room,  as  he  had  done  night 
after  night  from  the  beginning,  taking  care  that  no 
harm  should  befall  the  curly  head.  He  undressed  her 
with  his  own  fingers,  smiling  at  the  babbling  confidences 
she  poured  into  his  ears,  or  waiting  patiently  until  the 
squirmer  subsided,  and  another  button  could  be  freed. 
He  picked  up  the  scattered  clothes,  folded  them,  and 
hung  them  over  a  chair,  captured  the  straggling  shoes, 
and  ranged  them  toe  to  toe,  in  military  precision,  at  the 
foot  of  the  bed,  as  he  had  done  for  years. 

"  Oh,  what  a  funny  star !  "  the  child  cried,  as  he  put 
out  the  light  and  was  shutting  the  curtains ;  "  see  how 
it  winks  and  winks.  How  big  and  way  off  it  looks, 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  359 

doesn't  it  ?  Oh,  I  hate  so  to  have  you  shut  out  all  the 
stars,  Papa." 

He  drew  the  curtains  and  put  out  his  hand  and  felt 
his  way  to  the  bed  and  sat  down. 

"  What  are  you  thinking  about  so  hard,  Papa  ? "  she 
asked,  noticing  his  silence.  He  was  thinking  of  just 

Jsuch  a  night  years  ago,  and  of  a  little  boy  who  looked 
up  at  the  stars  with  just  such  eyes  as  hers.  The  years 
were  gone,  like  an  autumn  twilight,  and  he  was  a  boy 
again,  ignorant  of  sorrow  and  pain. 

"  Promise  me,  little  girl,"  he  said,  thinking  of  the 
awakening  that  was  to  come,  "  promise  me  that  when 
you  cannot  understand  anything,  you  will  come  to  me." 

The  sleepy  child  mumbled  assent,  then,  tumbling 
from  the  bed,  she  knelt  at  his  knees  in  prayer,  bury 
ing  her  head  in  his  lap.  Once  back  in  bed,  she  turned 
drowsily  on  her  pillow,  still  clutching  his  hand,  and  mut 
tered,  "You  —  won't  —  go 'way  —  till  I'm  —  fas'  'sleep? 
Promise ! " 

"  I  promise,"  he  answered,  and  he  waited  until  the 
tiny  fingers  relaxed ;  he  would  have  waited  the  whole 
night  if  she  had  asked  it.  Then,  he  rose  slowly  from 
the  bed  so  that  it  scarcely  creaked,  and  listening  for  a 
sound  to  call  him  back,  tiptoed  from  the  room  to  another 
bedside,  that  of  the  other  child. 


CHAPTER   XXXVI 

IN  the  morning  John,  who  was  an  early  riser,  would 
hover  about  Emily's  bedroom,  every  now  and  then 
glancing  in  for  the  first  sight  of  a  fluttering  eyelid ; 
this  once  detected,  he  would  watch  in  delight  from 
the  foot  of  the  bed  the  squirmings  and  protesting 
grunts  which  accompanied  that  young  lady's  tardy 
awakening. 

Breakfast  over,  they  resorted  to  the  library.  Out 
would  come  primers  and  fine  Spencerian  copy-books, 
arithmetic,  pencil  and  paper,  and  the  father  would  in 
trench  himself  by  the  fire  for  the  morning  lesson.  He 
thought  the  child's  learning  something  beyond  words  — 
astounding.  She  was  just  in  the  magic  days  of  child 
hood,  days  of  golden  wishes  and  fairy  dreams.  When  ' 
she  read  to  him  out  of  Hans  Andersen's  good  old  book, 
he  would  glance  beyond  her  to  the  brown  fronts,  the 
chimneys  and  the  spires  showing  through  the  window, 
and  then  back  at  the  eager  little  face  —  he,  too,  was 
under  the  spell  of  a  little  witch.  All  too  soon  the  spell 
would  break,  and  the  big  castle  would  come  tumbling 
into  a  thousand  pieces. 

In  the  afternoon  he  would  take  Emily  for  long  ram 
bles  in  the  park,  where  that  young  lady  was  greeted  by 
every  keeper  of  merry-go-round,  swan  boat,  swing,  or 
goat  cart,  with  as  much  consideration  as  though  she  were 
in  reality  a  duchess.  To  these  purveyors  of  childish 
amusements  she  was  a  constant  windfall,  and  her  pref 
erence  was  sought  by  all  the  arts  diplomatic. 

360 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  361 

It  was  in  the  evenings,  after  he  had  seen  his  charges 
safe  asleep,  and  Jack  was  out,  that  time  lagged  heavy 
upon  the  father.  At  such  times  he  was  lonely,  restless, 
and  quite  at  a  loss  how  to  beguile  the  stretching  hours 
until  the  welcome  drowsiness  arrived.  He  tried  to  read, 
dipping  into  the  books  he  knew  he  ought  to  know.  The 
efforts  were  perfunctory  —  the  book  was  relaxed,  closed, 
abandoned.  His  chin  dropped  to  the  palm  of  his  hand, 
the  lips  tightened,  the  eyes  fell  in  revery  to  an  open 
page  on  the  table,  to  Sinbad  and  the  Roc's  egg,  with  a 
longing  for  the  years  to  hurry  past,  that  Emily  might 
be  sitting  at  his  side  of  nights  reading  to  him.  The 
dreams  fled,  the  emptiness  remained.  Then  he  would 
draw  himself  up  straight,  shut  his  lips  sternly,  shoulder 
a  cane,  and,  with  a  special  adjuration  to  Marjory's  nurse, 
would  go  out,  marching  grimly  down  Broadway,  finding 
a  little  distraction  in  the  current  of  humanity  that  swept 
past  under  the  glare  of  the  lights. 

Gradually,  of  late,  when  solitude  hung  too  heavily  on 
him,  he  would  trudge  over  to  Cousin  Nell's,  to  listen  to 
her  music  and  chat  with  her  about  the  old  days.  More 
and  more  he  began  to  turn  to  her  for  silent  sympathy. 
He  was  at  the  solitary  period  of  life,  when  friends  and 
kindred  have  dropped  away.  In  all  the  world,  until 
Jack  had  come,  Nell  alone  recalled  his  boyhood.  Home 
again  he  would  go  at  last,  tramping  along  with  listless 
cane  and  downcast  eyes  —  home  once  more  to  his 
bed  beside  his  wife's,  ready  to  spring  up  at  her  slightest 
motion. 

One  peculiarity  he  had  developed  in  these  late  ram 
bles, —  he  never  could  learn  to  pass  a  beggar.  Once 
or  twice  he  had  gone  on  resolutely  for  a  block,  and  then, 
hesitatingly,  had  retraced  his  steps,  and  finally  dropped 
.a  coin  in  the  rattling  tin  box.  His  sorrow  had  made 


362  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

him  tender  toward  the  suffering  of  others  ;  his  sympa 
thies  were  quick  to  be  touched,  now. 

Jack,  who  was  with  him  on  one  such  occasion, 
laughed  and  said,  "  What,  again  ?  That  makes  the 
third  beggar  you've  tipped  to-night,  you  old  philanthro 
pist.  They  know  your  beat." 

"Well,  Jack,"  answered  John,  gravely,  "if  I  should 
pass  one,  I  don't  believe  I  should  sleep  all  night.  I'm 
falling  into  funny  ways  lately.  You  see,  down  at  the 
bottom,  it's  a  selfish  reason." 

-"  Impostor !"  growled  Jack.  "Humph!  I  warn  you 
I  am  not  to  be  taken  in." 

"Jack,"  said  his  friend,  after  a  few  moments,  "you 
used  to  be  somewhat  of  a  hand  at  French  —  now  what 
do  you  think  of  this  Miss  Gringoire  ?  Is  her  accent 
good  enough  for  Emily  ?  " 

"  What,  the  Duchess  again  ? "  cried  the  major,  pinch 
ing  his  arm.  "  From  morn  till  dewy  eve  do  you  think 
of  any  one  else  ?  Tell  me  that,  sir ! " 

"Only  one  other,"  said  John,  as  they  turned  the 
corner  and  the  library  lights  shone  out  ahead  ;  and  at 
that  point,  as  always,  the  conversation  ended. 

This  then  was  John's  life.  Somewhat  with  the 
fanaticism  with  which  the  heathen  prostrate  themselves 
before  the  great  god  Shiva,  blindly  and  utterly,  he 
worshipped  the  child.  His  eyes  were  constantly  on 
her  face,  fearful  lest  one  fleeting  flush  of  childish  mirth, 
one  downcast  glance,  one  pensive  mood  should  escape 
him.  At  times  he  dropped  his  head,  unable  longer  to 
look  at  her  —  so  painfully  was  she  like  her  mother.  At 
other  times,  as  she  stood  imperiously  at  his  knee,  he 
would  get  a  look  so  like  one  of  his  own,  — a  word  just  as 
he  might  have  spoken  it,  a  gesture  he  might  have  made 


ARROWS   OF   THE   ALMIGHTY  363 

with  his  own  hands,  —  that  he  would  hold  her  in  his 
arms  and  stare,  until  he  would  awake  with  a  start,  to 
find  the  puzzled  child  with  gathering  tears  in  her  eyes, 
and  forced  to  evade  her  doleful  question,  why  he  looked 
so  sad.  He  was  so  adrift  out  of  her  presence,  so  con 
tent  when  she  stood  prattling  at  his  side,  that  often  he 
said  to  himself  with  a  guilty  twinge,  that  it  was  all 
utterly  selfish,  all  for  his  own  happiness. 

When  the  war  had  closed,  he  had  left  the  service 
quietly,  —  stealing  away  from  the  honors  and  the  praise 
ready  to  be  showered  upon  him,  —  had  disappeared  from 
view,  and  shut  himself  up  with  his  wife  and  her  baby. 
His  mind  was  a  chaos,  his  soul  was  torn  with  anguish. 
Alone,  unseen,  he  fought  out  the  bitter  fight ;  and  when 
from  sheer  exhaustion  it  was  ended,  and  he  had  acquired 
an  outward  calm,  all  that  he  had  won  was  but  a  mask  to 
wear  before  the  world.  The  wound  was  not  to  be  healed. 

He  gave  himself  up  to  haunting  the  waiting-rooms  of 
the  great  specialists.  He  journeyed  to  Europe  for  con 
sultations,  until  even  he  saw  the  fruitlessness  of  the 
quest.  Only  a  few  ventured  to  assert  that  it  was  possi 
ble,  not  probable,  that  her  mind  some  day  might  be 
restored  ;  stranger  things  had  happened.  Still,  whatever 
might  come,  she  lay  beyond  the  power  of  their  physic. 

All  this  John  told  Jack  in  a  long  talk  after  lunch, 
saying  frankly :  "  I  tell  you  this  once,  that  I  may  not 
have  to  refer  to  it  again,  for  I  —  I  cannot  bear  to  dwell 
on  it.  I  never  have  given  up  hope,  Jack,  and  I  never 
shall.  I  know  she  will  come  back.  She  must  —  she 
must ! " 

He  rose,  more  agitated  than  Jack  had  ever  seen  him, 
walked  to  the  end  of  the  room,  and  came  to  a  stop 
before  a  daguerreotype  of  Marjory  Wingate.  When  he 
returned,  the  storm  was  gone  from  his  eyes,  and  he 


364  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

leaned  over,  resting  his  hand  on  his  friend's  shoulder, 
and  said :  "  There,  Jack,  we  understand  each  other. 
Now  off  with  you  to  your  appointment.  Emily  and  I 
are  going  for  a  walk." 

Jack  pulled  out  his  watch,  seized  his  cane,  and  ran  off, 
while  the  father  waited  patiently  at  the  foot  of  the  stairs 
until  the  little  romp  came  sliding  down  the  banisters, 
to  the  imminent  danger  of  her  very  best  crackling  frock. 
John  stopped  her  at  the  end  of  the  slide,  catching  her 
in  his  arms,  in  spite  of  shrieks  of  protesting  laughter, 
until  Emily,  regaining  the  floor,  smoothed  her  dress 
reproachfully,  and  said,  "You've  spoiled  my  nice 
clean  dress." 

"  How  about  the  banisters,  young  lady  ? "  inquired  the 
father,  with  a  twinkle  ;  "  are  they  good  for  new  frocks  ?  " 

The  Duchess  changed  the  conversation.  "  We're 
going  to  Cousin  Nell's,"  she  said,  with  a  stamp  of  her 
foot.  "  Yes,  we  are,  you  know  we  are,  Papa." 

"  She's  not  at  home,  perhaps." 

"Yes,  she  is." 

"Well,  if  you  say  she  is,  of  course  she  must  be.  That 
settles  it.  We'll  go  at  once." 

Away  they  went  up  the  avenue,  hand  in  hand,  Emily 
skipping  along,  trying  to  keep  pace  with  the  strides, 
which,  though  he  took  pains  to  shorten  them,  were  still 
a  problem  for  her  young  legs,  until  at  length  she  darted 
off  ahead  and  scampered  up  a  flight  of  brown  stone 
steps.  John,  coming  up  soberly  a  minute  later,  found 
the  door  open,  and  Emily  clinging  to  the  skirts  of  a  lady, 
who,  turning,  showed  the  blackest  of  hair  and  eyes,  and 
a  rich,  dark  complexion. 

"  The  young  lady  would  insist  upon  coming  to  see 
you,  Nell,"  said  John,  taking  her  hand.  "  So  here  we 
are.  But  you're  going  out  ? " 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  365 

"No,  no  —  I  had  nothing  to  do,  I  was  going  out  for 
a  walk,"  Helen  said,  looking  down  at  the  child.  "Merely 
to  make  time  go  a  little  faster.  I  am  glad  you've  come." 

They  went  upstairs  into  the  drawing-room,  Helen 
laughing  with  the  pleasure  of  a  childless  woman  in  such 
affection,  as  Emily  clung  to  her  with  both  hands,  and 
gazed  into  her  face  with  wide-eyed  admiration  ;  for  the 
child  thought  her  the  fairest,  loveliest  being  she  had 
ever  known,  and  secretly  likened  her  to  the  wonderful 
enchanted  princess  in  the  tower. 

The  years  since  the  war  had  made  little  change  in  the 
woman.  What  change  there  had  been  was  all  for  the 
better.  She  was  of  a  fuller  figure,  rounded  and  supple. 
The  old  drawn  expression,  the  haunted  look,  was  gone 
from  her  face,  that  on  seeing  John  lighted  up  with  a  soft, 
happy  glow ;  but  back  somewhere  in  the  eyes  still  lay 
the  old  restless  look. 

"You  and  Jack  are  marvellous,"  said  John,  as  they 
took  chairs,  Emily  cuddling  up  to  Helen,  and  playing 
with  her  jewelled  hands.  "  Really,  you  grow  younger 
every  time  I  see  you." 

"Throw  things  off,  John,  forget,  and  you  will  be  like 
us.  That  is  the  only  secret." 

John  shook  his  head.  "  An  old  dog  and  new  tricks, 
Nell.  I  reckon  I  can't  change  my  ways  now." 

He  let  his  head  drop  lazily  against  the  cushioned  back 
of  the  chair. 

"  And  how  have  you  been  since  I  saw  you  last  ? "  she 
said  with  soft  solicitude.  "  No  more  ramblings  at  night  ? 
You  promised  me,  you  know,  you  would  come  to  me 
when  you  were  restless.  You  mustn't  forget  that ! " 

"  What  —  three  or  four  times  a  week  ? " 

"  Every  night,  John,  if  I  can  help  you." 

His  eyes  were  following  Emily  in  her  curious  seeking 


3 66  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

through  the  shelves.  He  did  not  see  the  expression  that 
went  with  the  words. 

"  Major  Hazard  is  with  me  now,  and  he  is  the  best 
cure  known.  He  ought  to  be  called  Jack  the  care 
killer." 

"  I  met  him  two  or  three  nights  ago,  and  we  talked 
of  you.  Why  did  you  never  tell  me  of  your  start  in 
Cleveland  ? " 

"Why,  I  began  about  the  same  as  others,  I  reckon. 
I  never  thought  you'd  a  mind  to  hear  it." 

"Don't  you  know,"  she  said  slowly,  "I  care  to  hear 
everything  about  you  ?  "  Then  rising,  she  went  quickly 
to  the  sofa  and  began  to  take  off  her  bonnet.  "  You 
would  like  me  to  play  to  you,  wouldn't  you  ?  You  see, 
I  know  what  pleases  you." 

She  sat  down  and  began  to  play  the  things  she  knew 
he  loved,  drifting  from  one  melody  to  another  just  as 
they  occurred  to  her,  in  that  most  delightful  of  all  ways ; 
John,  from  the  chair,  every  now  and  then  prompting 
a  favorite.  Emily,  deserting  a  gloriously  illustrated 
edition  of  the  "  Arabian  Nights,"  came  wondering  to 
her  side.  Helen  rambled  on  for  a  long  while  with  half- 
closed  eyes,  sometimes  glancing  gently  at  the  child,  but 
never  at  the  father,  until  at  last  she  ran  her  hands  softly 
down  the  keyboard  and  rose.  She  had  played  to  the 
thoughts  she  could  not  speak. 

"  Do  you  like  it  ?  "  she  asked,  laying  a  hand  on  the 
back  of  his  chair. 

John  nodded.  "  I  like  to  come  and  listen,  Nell,"  he 
said,  not  quite  back  from  the  land  of  reveries.  "It's 
your  expression  I  like ;  everything  you  touch  has  you  in 
it." 

Seeing  her  standing  there,  he  rose,  and  they  went  to 
the  window  and  looked  out  on  the  shifting,  nervous 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  367 

throng,  the  stiff  footmen  on  the  carriages,  the  horses 
stepping  proudly  under  their  jingling  harness,  the 
splendor  and  the  squalor,  the  real  and  the  sham,  the 
pretention  and  the  striving,  and  Helen  said  with  a 
shake  of  the  head  :  "  What  is  it  all  worth  ?  I  would  give 
all  I  possess  to  have  something  —  " 

"  I  too,  Nell." 

"So  would  they,  probably,"  she  said  with  a  sudden 
laugh,  and  she  drew  the  curtain  across  and  said  :  "  Come 
away.  It  is  a  fine  moral  picture,  isn't  it?  —  when  you 
understand.  Every  one  wants  what  he  hasn't  got,  and 
when  they  are  my  age  it's  little  they  wouldn't  give 
to  get  it  —  but  we  can't."  He  shook  his  head,  still 
lingering  at  the  window.  "  Forgive  me,  John,"  she 
said  suddenly,  touching  his  arm.  "  I  didn't  mean  to 
make  you  sad  —  I  see  I  have.  Does  the  wound  never 
heal  ?  " 

At  the  words,  John  drew  back  instinctively,  his  lips 
growing  stern,  and  his  eyes  forbidding. 

She  saw  the  movement,  and  she  said  sadly,  sinking 
her  voice  that  Emily  might  not  hear :  "  Oh,  John,  can't 
I,  who  have  known  what  sorrow  is,  speak  to  you  in 
sympathy  without  your  drawing  away.  Life  is  hard 
enough.  Don't  let  your  pride  turn  all  help  from  you." 

He  shook  his  head,  and  softened,  saying  :  "  I  know  how 
kindly  you  meant  it,  Nell.  But  I  cannot  let  you  speak 
to  me  of  that —  I  cannot,  Nell  —  it  is  my  nature." 

"Very  well,  then." 

Thereafter  she  spoke  hardly  a  word  until  he  called 
Emily  and  went  away.  Then  she  went  to  the  window 
and  watched  him  until  the  crowds  shut  him  from  her 
sight.  Her  hands  dropped  bitterly.  She  glanced  up  at 
the  little  Chinese  god  on  the  wall  and  cried  :  "As  soon 
ask  the  love  of  that  stone  :  he  does  not  even  see.  Oh, 


368  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

what  are  riches,  money,  jewels,  when  in  a  year,  a  month, 
a  day,  they  will  be  no  more  to  me  than  dust  !  What  is 
anything,  what  has  anything  ever  been  to  me,  compared 
to  his  love  ! " 

She  pressed  her  palms  against  her  forehead  passion 
ately,  and  went  to  her  room.  On  the  table,  wide  open, 
lay  a  copy  of  "  Vanity  Fair,"  into  which  that  morning 
she  had  been  dipping.  She  turned  to  a  passage  that  had 
caught  her  imagination.  She  read  it  carefully,  and  cast 
it  down  on  the  table.  It  balanced  a  moment  and  fell  to 
the  floor,  where  she  let  it  lie  with  a  disdainful  glance. 

"  '  A  woman  may  marry  whom  she  likes '  —  how  often 
I  have  heard  that  quoted  !  "  she  cried  impatiently,  and 
then,  her  mood  changing,  she  shook  her  head  and  said 
more  quietly,  "  Ah,  but  what  when  another  woman 
must  be  reckoned  with? — a  woman  dead  to  him,  but 
how  alive  to  me  ! " 


CHAPTER   XXXVII 

DURING  these  years  many  business  offers  had  come 
to  John,  but  to  all  he  had  returned  an  unqualified  re 
fusal.  Lately  there  had  come  another  proposal,  a 
tempting  offer  to  embark  in  the  new  transcontinental 
railroad,  with  the  information  that  a  director  would  wait 
upon  him  to  make  explanations  and  urge  his  acceptance. 

So  one  day  a  burly  form  came  laboriously  up  the 
steps,  puffing  and  swearing,  and  a  familiar  face,  round 
as  a  squash,  with  roving  eyes,  loomed  out  of  the  shadow. 

"  What  ?  Blodgett !  "  cried  John,  as  the  other  pumped 
him  by  the  hand  in  the  old  familiar  way.  "  You  in  the 
railroad  too  ? " 

"I'm  in  pretty  much  everything  these  days,  John. 
Whew !  hold  on,  let  me  get  back  my  breath.  Curse 
that  foot ! "  Blodgett  cried,  falling  into  the  nearest  chair, 
and  mopping  his  forehead.  "Pretty  much  everything  — 
either  trying  to  get  in  or  out  of  it.  I  like  your  quarters. 
Where's  your  little  girl?  I  brought  her  a  present.  Out  ? 
Too  bad." 

John  allowed  him  to  rest  a  moment,  for  the  combined 
exertion  of  climbing  and  talking  had  left  him  breathless, 
and  his  hands  were  shaking.  He  looked  at  him  again, 
and  saw  the  change.  Blodgett  had  become  a  man  of 
the  hour ;  the  brag  and  the  bluster  had  rubbed  off,  and 
the  shrewd,  persistent  speculator  of  the  small  city  was 
now  a  man  of  national  affairs,  the  engineer  of  colossal 
enterprises.  Under  the  weakening  body  was  the  iron 
will,  the  alert,  deep-reading  eye. 
SB  369 


370  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

"  Palsy,  John,"  said  the  promoter,  stretching  out  a 
quivering  hand,  "and  gout  in  the  foot.  I'm  paying  for 
my  sins.  Now  to  business.  I'm  here  from  St.  Paul  to 
get  you,  and  I  won't  take  no  from  you." 

"  My  mind  has  long  been  made  up,"  answered  John, 
quietly.  "  You'll  have  to  go  back  empty-handed,  I 
reckon." 

"  Hang  me  if  I  do!  "  cried  Blodgett,  bringing  down  his 
fist  with  a  crash.  The  emphasis  started  a  fit  of  cough 
ing.  When  it  was  over  he  began  more  mildly :  "  You 
won't  refuse  this,  John.  What  I  said,  I  stick  to.  I 
won't  take  my  answer  now.  I'm  here  to  state  my 
opinions,  and  you're  here  to  listen  and  think  'em  over 
for  a  month.  I'll  take  your  answer  then,  and  not  before, 
and  I'll  fetch  it  myself,  if  I  come  from  'Frisco  for  it." 

"  Well,  what  are  your  opinions  ? "  asked  John,  with  a 
smile. 

"  Look  here,  John,"  the  other  began,  producing  the 
inevitable  cigar,  and  rubbing  a  match.  The  smoke 
poured  forth  furiously,  enveloping  his  features,  but  the 
twinkling  eyes  shone  through,  gauging  their  man. 
"You're  a  tough  customer  —  the  toughest  I  ever  run 
against.  I  never  know  just  how  to  go  at  you.  Any 
other  man  I'd  talk  money,  but,  hang  it !  I  don't  believe 
you  care  a  continental  about  that,  when  your  mind  is  set 
up." 

"  I  don't,"  John  answered  frankly.  "  I  made  my 
money,  I  have  invested  fortunately,  I  have  more  than 
enough,  I  am  satisfied." 

"  There,  there ;  right  there.  There's  the  point,"  cried 
Blodgett,  snapping  up  the  opening.  He  leaned  forth 
and  brought  one  hand  down  on  the  other  with  a  re 
sounding  slap.  "  Are  you  satisfied  ?  I  say  you're  not 
[slap].  You  can't  be  satisfied  doing  nothing  all  these 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  37 1 

years.  You?  You're  the  man  to  lead  [slap].  You 
have  energy  [slap],  force,  power  [slap,  slap],  you  can't 
shut  'em  up !  You  had  ambition  when  I  knew  ye,  more 
'than  I  ever  seen  in  any  man.  You've  got  that  now. 
Ambition  don't  die.  You  shake  your  head.  I  know  ye 
better  [a  tremendous  blow].  I'm  talkin*  plain,  John.  I 
don't  mean  to  hurt  you ;  I'm  an  old  friend.  You  don't 
know  yourself.  You're  restless,  you're  uneasy ;  I  can 
see  it.  You  want  to  be  up  and  doin'  things,  big  things  fit 
for  your  abilities.  Mark  my  words,  you  won't  be  happy 
till  you  do.  And  that's  why,  when  you've  thought  it 
over,  you'll  go  in  with  us.  It's  a  big  thing  —  the  big 
gest  thing  to-day.  You  can  name  your  salary.  I  know 
that's  no  object ;  I  wish  it  was.  We  need  men  like  you, 
John.  We've  got  to  have  you  [slap].  There's  the  point. 
I  don't  want  your  answer  now  ;  don't  shake  your  head  at 
me,  it  won't  do.  You've  got  to  take  a  month,  and  that's 
all  there  is  to  it." 

John  made  no  answer.  During  all  his  visitor's  talk, 
one  thought  had  run  through  his  mind.  Ten  years  ago 
Blodgett  would  have  made  him  the  offer  through  pure 
friendship;  to-day,  underneath  all  the  protestations,  he 
saw  the  selfish  reason,  the  desire  to  gain  a  useful  weapon. 
Men  had  become  mere  instruments  to  the  promoter.  John 
studied  him  long,  wondering  at  the  hunger  for  money 
and  power  that  would  never  be  fed. 

"  Well,  that's  over ;  we'll  talk  of  other  matters," 
Blodgett  put  in,  rousing  him  from  his  study.  "Twenty 
minutes  to  the  good  yet  —  I'm  on  my  way  to  Chicago 
in  an  hour.  I  know — I  know,  bless  you,  what  I've 
been  tellin'  ye.  Didn't  I  try  a  couple  of  years  of  takin' 
it  easy  myself  ?  Don't  I  know  ?  I  didn't  go  in  for  any 
more  of  that  society  business  —  can't  go  them  prancin* 
snobs  and  their  ways  —  but  I  took  the  good  woman  and 


373  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

Florrie  for  a  tower,  as  they  say,  over  the  water.  It's  all 
right,  of  course,  if  you  like  that  kind  of  a  thing;  but 
it's  slow  —  slow  all  through,  and  they  give  you  nothin' 
to  eat.  I  was  just  runnin'  to  seed,  pinin'  for  the  excite 
ment  of  the  old  days,  and — well,  one  day  when  we  had  a 
little  count  or  something  on  hand,  that  Florrie'd  picked 
up,  I  come  right  out  at  dinner,  and  I  says,  says  I,  '  Maggie, 
I  can't  stand  it  no  longer;  I'm  goin'  back  to  the  land 
of  the  livin' ;  we  sail  next  week.' 

"I  fixed  the  women  as  smooth  as  anything,  right  here 
in  New  York,  and  then  I  cut  out  for  the  West.  John, 
it  makes  another  man  of  you.  There,  there,  now,  I'm 
done  with  business — let  it  drop."  He  dug  out  his 
watch  from  the  swelling  waistcoat,  glanced  at  it,  and 
started  up.  "Well,  I'm  off.  Give  us  your  hand  ;  glad 
I  got  your  views,  anyway.  Give  the  present  to  your 
little  girl.  Good-by.  Think  it  over,  John,  and  I  know 
what  your  answer'll  be." 

He  went  down  the  steps  slowly,  got  into  his  cab  with 
a  lunge,  and  drove  away.  At  the  corner,  whom  should 
he  meet  but  Jack,  marching  briskly  down  the  street. 
He  stopped  the  carriage  excitedly,  and,  thumping  on  the 
window,  beckoned  Jack  to  him,  and  made  him  acquainted 
with  his  desire. 

"  Hang  it,  I'd  be  willin'  to  put  up  a  little  sum  to  get 
him,"  he  added,  with  a  shrewd  glance,  "  if  I  thought 
you'd  take  it." 

"Thanks,"  responded  Jack,  with  a  laugh,  "but  I  do 
such  things  without  the  commission." 

"You're  a  good  one,  a  good  friend,  Major,"  said  the 
magnate,  withdrawing  into  his  seat,  and  the  next  instant 
he  was  whirling  away  to  his  train. 

When  Jack  came  whistling  into  the  library,  he  found 
John  in  a  brown  study  before  the  fire. 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  373 

"  Blodgett's  just  left,"  said  his  host,  without  looking 
up.  "You've  missed  him  by  just  three  minutes.  He's 
been  talking  me  deaf,  dumb,  and  blind  about  his  rail 
road." 

"  Lucky  fellow  !     When  are  you  going  into  it  ? " 

"  I  ?  Never.  Why  should  I  ?  I'm  as  happy  as  it  is 
possible  for  me  to  be.  He  won't  take  a  refusal  for  a 
month,  so  he  says  —  very  foolishly." 

"What,  you  refused  ? "  cried  the  major,  preparing  for 
the  attack. 

"  Refused  ?  Of  course  I  did.  Here,  I'm  taking  all 
the  fire  ;  draw  up  and  toast  your  heels.  What  nonsense 
are  you  talking,  Jack  ?  Do  you  think  anything  could 
tempt  me  to  leave  Emily  ?  —  and  that's  what  it  would 
mean." 

The  major,  being  brought  face  to  face  with  the  enemy, 
crossed  his  legs,  leaned  back,  made  a  cage  of  his  fingers, 
and  said,  after  a  long  whistle  :  "  I  believe  the  saving 
point  in  my  life,  Johnnie  Glum,  was  when  I  began  to 
give  you  lectures,  and  yet  I'd  rather  charge  into  grape 
and  canister  than  begin  another." 

"  What,  not  a  lecture ! "  cried  John,  with  affected 
anxiety.  "Well,  go  easy,  Major.  All  right ;  I'm  ready." 

"There,  now,  that's  just  the  kind  of  a  provoking  cuss 
you  are,"  Jack  began,  fidgeting  with  his  mustache; 
"  there  you  go,  assuming  those  defensive  tactics,  and  it 
means  no  end  of  trouble  before  I  can  get  you  down  to  a 
serious  and  respectful  frame  of  mind." 

"  Bosh  !  "  broke  in  John ;  "  go  on,  you  humbug !  It's 
part  of  your  art  to  get  me  good-natured." 

"  I  haven't  often  talked  to  you  this  way.  Lord  knows 
I'd  rather  not ;  but  I've  got  to  do  it.  See  here,  John," 
he  began  now  very  solemnly,  "  I  want  you  to  take  up 
that  offer.  I  want  you  to  put  on  the  harness  again,  and 


374  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

be  the  old,  alert  John  Gaunt.  Why,  John,  you're  so 
changed  you  shock  me  at  times.  You're  moody,  you're 
restless,  you  have  no  faith  in  yourself.  The  trouble  is, 
you're  stagnating,  John.  And  to  talk  plain,  it's  nothing 
but  a  sort  of  suicide  you're  planning  for  yourself.  Now 
I  know  what  you  say :  you  want  to  be  with  the  Duchess 
every  hour  of  the  day ;  I  know  how  you  feel.  Don't 
think  I'm  hard  ;  God  bless  you  for  it !  But  —  "  he  sat 
up  a  moment  and  stirred  the  fire  —  "John,  it  will  hurt 
you,  what  I'm  going  to  say,  but  it's  the  truth.  You 
haven't  a  right  to  keep  her  all  to  yourself.  You  must 
send  her  away  to  school,  where  she  can  play  with  other 
children,  and  learn  things  you  can't  teach  her.  You 
can't  keep  her  all  to  yourself,  because,  don't  you  see  ? 
it  won't  be  good  for  her ;  and  John,  that  time  is  coming 
soon.  I  —  I  don't  mean  to  be  hard." 

"  You,  too,  Jack  !  "  the  other  said  bitterly.  "  Has  any 
one  any  pity  for  me  ?  How  wise  you  are  !  Blodgett  is 
a  fool  beside  you.  You  know  how  to  go  straight  to  the 
heart." 

"  Oh,  I  say,  John,"  Jack  broke  in,  seeing  how  deeply 
he  had  pierced.  "  I'm  not  trying  to  get  the  better  of 
you  in  an  argument.  Be  just  —  it's  the  truth  I'm 
showing  you."  Then  he  added  resolutely,  "You  see, 
when  the  Duchess  must  go  off  to  school  —  " 

"  Enough,"  a  hand  came  out  suddenly,  and  checked  his 
arm,  "enough,  Jack;  I  know  all  you  have  to  say.  Don't 
go  on.  You  have  said  enough ;  I  must  think  it  over. 
Hush  !  There  she  is  now,  on  the  stairs." 

Often  and  long,  doggedly,  defiantly,  he  did  think  on 
what  Jack  had  said :  in  the  morning  lessons  when 
Emily  waited  at  his  knees  with  mischievous  eyes  ;  in 
the  afternoon  trips  through  the  park,  as  he  followed  the 
imperious  little  pleasure-seeker;  at  evening,  sitting  by 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  375 

her  bed  in  the  darkness,  hearing  the  childish  heart 
pouring  out  its  faith  and  belief  in  ways  he  could  not 
follow  ;  most  of  all,  in  the  solitary,  wakeful  night.  The 
better  to  think,  he  even  separated  himself  of  afternoons 
from  Emily,  sitting  by  himself  for  hours  on  a  bench  in 
the  little  park.  He  found  with  a  pang  that  the  child 
did  not  even  notice  the  change ;  that  indeed  she  was 
happier  in  her  own  solitude.  Quick  on  the  pang  came 
the  strange  feeling  that  he  was  only  living  over  the 
emotions  of  his  own  mother.  He  recalled  the  day  she 
told  him  he  might  go  to  school,  —  how  happily  he  had 
run  off,  careless  of  everything  but  his  new  delight ! 
how,  glancing  back  a  moment,  he  had  seen  her  sitting 
silently  in  the  fall  of  the  dark,  leaning  wearily  against 
the  back  of  the  garden-seat  among  the  roses.  Only 
now,  in  the  immutable  cycle  of  life,  had  he  come  at  last 
to  understand  what  she  had  felt. 

One  morning,  shortly  after  this  interview  with  Jack, 
a  day  in  April,  after  a  sleepless  night,  he  had  risen 
earlier  than  usual,  and  gone  out  into  the  park,  to  his 
accustomed  bench.  It  was  a  forward  season.  The 
slate  clouds  and  gusty  skies  of  March  were  gone,  and 
instead,  but  one  lazy,  fleecy,  drifting  cloud  hung  against 
the  sweep  of  blue.  Tne  air,  moving  gently  among  the 
swelling  buds,  was  soft  against  his  cheek.  The  spirit  of 
rejuvenation  was  abroad  —  in  the  open  windows  inviting 
the  breeze,  in  the  springing  step  of  the  pedestrians,  in 
the  crack  of  the  coachman's  whip,  in  the  far-heard 
sounds  of  children's  voices,  in  the  perfume  of  the  air,  — 
the  newer  color  in  the  grass,  a  few  bursting  twigs,  the 
warmer  earth,  the  song  of  building  wings,  proclaiming, 
despite  brick  and  stone,  the  spring.  The  gardener, 
moving  among  his  beds,  tipped  his  hat  to  him  and  said 
good  morning.  Only  one  other  person  was  near  him, 


376  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

an  old  gentleman,  with  hands  folded  over  a  cane,  who 
was  regarding  him  from  a  neighboring  bench,  a  figure 
John  had  often  noticed  during  the  winter  months. 

When  he  raised  his  head  again,  the  bent  form  was 
standing  before  him,  and  he  heard  a  thin  voice  say, 
"  Good  morning.  May  I  share  your  seat  with  you  ? " 

"  Certainly.  Sit  down,  sir,"  said  John,  noticing  the 
veins  that  stood  out  like  furrows  on  the  sallow  hands. 

"I  wanted  to  talk  to  somebody,"  the  other  began 
apologetically;  "I  am  not  feeling  very  cheerful  this 
morning,  you  see." 

John  could  not  suppress  a  feeling  of  irritation  at  the 
intrusion.  A  certain  melancholy  had  always  grown 
upon  him  during  this  season,  and  he  wished  to  be  alone ; 
but  he  said  kindly  :  — 

"  I  have  not  seen  you  here,  sir,  for  a  couple  of  weeks. 
I  hope  you  have  not  been  ill." 

"What's  that  —  ill?"  said  the  other,  shading  his  ear. 
John  repeated  the  question.  "  111  —  no,  no  —  I  always 
get  feeling  low  and  restless  when  the  spring's  coming. 
I  suppose  I'm  queer — I  can't  bear  to  see  it  come." 

Astonished  at  a  note  so  in  harmony  with  his  mood, 
John  turned  and  studied  him.  The  old  gentleman  saw 
his  surprise,  ran  his  hand  undecidedly  through  the 
stained  gray  beard,  turned  stiffly  to  face  him,  and  said  : 
"  I  presume  you're  wondering  why  I  come  here  then, 
eh  ?  I  thought  as  much.  Well,  I'll  tell  you." 

He  put  out  his  hand  and  touched  John's  arm.  "I'm 
getting  on  in  life,  don't  you  see  ?  and  it  always  makes 
me  think  of  that.  I'd  get  away  from  it  if  I  could ;  I'd 
go  to  some  place  where  there  isn't  any  spring,  but  I 
can't.  I'm  queer,  I  know.  When  I  feel  it's  coming,  I 
don't  come  around  these  parks.  I  want  to  pretend  it 
isn't  so,  you  know.  I  go  and  bury  myself  down  on  the 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  377 

East  Side,  where  there  are  no  green  things,  and  I  won't 
know  it's  coming.  It's  different  to  me,  now — I  —  I 
I'm  not  a  part  of  it  any  more." 

He  drew  his  hand  away,  settled  back,  and  looked 
straight  across  the  lawns.  "It  is  terrible,  terrible. 
Did  you  ever  read  of  the  way  the  Turks  took  Constanti 
nople,  and  how  they  entered  the  streets  singing  their 
battle  songs  over  the  dead  and  the  dying  ?  You  have  ? 
Well,  that's  what  the  spring  is  to  me.  There  isn't 
any  pity  in  it.  It  isn't  for  old  age ;  it  laughs  at  it.  It 
conquers  me  and  laughs  at  me.  What  are  you  and  I 
before  this  thing  in  front  of  us  ?  I  try  to  run  from  it, 
but  it's  no  use.  This  year  I  buried  myself  for  two 
weeks  away  from  everything,  and  this  very  morning  as 
I  turned  the  corner  of  Irving  Place  and  Nineteenth, 
right  there  waiting  for  me  were  three  blades  of  grass, 
waiting  up  among  the  cobblestones.  It's  no  use.  I 
can't  escape  it.  That's  why  I'm  here." 

He  drew  himself  up  erect,  with  a  soldierly  showing, 
pointed  to  a  bed  of  symmetrically  arranged  crocus,  and 
said  scornfully,  with  a  melodramatic  wave  of  his  hand, 
"There's  a  man's  cheap  imitation  ;  this  is  the  real,"  and 
with  his  cane  he  poked  the  weeds  among  the  gravel. 

The  next  moment  he  was  gone,  bending  over  his  cane. 
The  gardener  came  up,  grinning.  "  Old  boy  been  telling 
you  some  of  his  stories  ? " 

"Yes,  poor  fellow." 

"  Out  of  his  head  these  ten  years." 

John  looked  at  the  gardener  with  a  sort  of  relief.  Here 
was  a  toothless  old  man,  grinning  and  winking,  who  did 
not  fear  the  spring.  What  he  had  heard  was  false,  then, 
the  mere  wandering  of  a  disordered  mind.  As  he  began 
to  walk  down  the  street,  he  felt  glad  at  heart  that  all  he 
had  heard  was  mere  imagination,  that  there  existed  no 


378  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

one  in  the  whole  city  who  fled  from  the  approach  of 
spring.  Suddenly  he  stopped,  and  a  strange  quiver  ran 
through  him.  He  had  come  to  the  corner  of  Nineteenth, 
brought  to  a  full  stop  on  the  cobblestones  before  a  splash 
of  green  against  the  gray  —  the  three  blades  of  victorious 
grass. 

It  was  true  then.  He  stopped,  startled.  Then  sud 
denly  he  stooped,  plucked  the  grass  by  the  roots,  and 
holding  it  before  him  on  his  open  hand,  went  slowly  back 
to  the  house. 

"Jack,"  he  said  that  night,  when  the  major  had  re 
turned  to  find  him  akimbo  before  the  fire,  crushing  in 
his  hands  a  tuft  of  green,  "  I  have  been  living  for  days 
in  my  mother's  heart,  learning  what  I  did  not  see  as 
a  child  —  what  Emily  does  not  see  now.  Queer,  isn't 
it?  this  life  we  live  in.  And  now,  do  you  know,  to-day, 
I  can  understand  my  father  —  his  horror  of  death  —  I 
know  now  how  he  felt  in  —  in  the  spring." 

He  saw  a  look  of  alarm  in  Jack's  face.  He  sprang 
up,  flung  the  grass  in  the  fire,  clapped  him  on  the  back, 
and  cried  with  a  bluff  laugh,  "  What  nonsense,  Jack ! 
I'm  not  afraid  of  that ; "  and  then,  looking  at  the  shrivel 
ing  grass,  he  added,  "it  is  merely  that  I  begin  to  un 
derstand  it." 

But  despite  his  protestation,  he  was  secretly  worried 
at  certain  black  thoughts  that  had  begun  to  crop  up  in 
his  mind,  and  he  said  to  himself  more  than  once : 
"Where  will  it  end?  I  don't  know  ;  I  cannot  see." 

During  this  time  Jack  went  out  often  of  nights,  and 
John  was  much  alone.  When  he  went  to  call  at  his 
cousin's,  the  maid  informed  him  that  Mrs.  Blackstock 
was  out  of  town  for  two  weeks  ;  and  so,  left  to  his  own 
devices,  he  wound  through  the  dark  city  trying  to  tire 
mind  and  body,  that  he  might  escape  another  sleepless 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  379 

night.  "Where  will  it  all  end?"  he  said  to  himself 
again  ;  but  down  in  his  heart  he  knew  that  the  struggle 
was  only  about  to  begin. 

One  night  when  he  had  finished  putting  Emily  to  bed, 
the  maid  informed  him  that  there  was  a  man  downstairs 
who  had  asked  to  see  him.  John  glanced  at  the  card, 

ROBERT  GRAVES. 

The  name  was  strange  to  him.  He  went  down  curious 
at  the  object  of  such  a  call.  At  his  entrance  a  clerical- 
looking  man,  shabbily  dressed,  rose  and  made  an  awk 
ward  bow. 

"  Mr.  Graves  ?  You  wish  to  see  me  ?  "  said  John,  eying 
him  sharply.  "  What  can  I  do  for  you  ?  Take  a  seat." 

The  other  thanked  him  with  the  conscious  punctili 
ousness  that  distinguishes  mediocre  breeding,  and  said 
hurriedly  :  "I'm  sorry  to  trouble  you,  sir.  I'm  not  tak 
ing  your  time  ?  I  —  I  wouldn't  have  done  it  —  if  I 
wasn't  in  such  a  bad  way,  you  see." 

John  looked  at  him  again  and,  seeing  an  open  coun 
tenance,  answered  kindly :  "  Go  on.  I  will  help  you  if  I 
can." 

"You  mistake  me,  sir,"  Graves  answered,  moving 
uneasily.  "  I  am  not  a  beggar ;  I'm  only  asking  for  what 
is  owing  me." 

"What?"  exclaimed  John,  instantly  on  his  guard. 
"  Why,  I  never  saw  you  before  in  my  life." 

"  Not  you  ;  I  don't  mean  you,  sir.  It  was  your  wife 
that  hired  me.  It  isn't  much,  Mr.  Gaunt,  a  bit  over 
twenty  dollars ;  but  it  would  help  me  out  a  good  deal 
just  now." 

"  My  wife !  What  do  you  mean  ? "  John  broke  in 
sharply,  planting  his  chair  directly  in  front  of  him. 


380  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

"  Wait  —  I  am  mistaken,  I  have  seen  you  before ;  now, 
where  was  it  ?  " 

"  In  Baltimer,  sir." 

"  In  Baltimore  ? " 

"Yes,  sir,  about  '64.  Your  wife,  she  hired  me  to 
follow  you  around  the  streets,  to  be  on  hand  in  case  of 
foul  play." 

John  sprang  to  his  feet  and  seized  him  by  the  shoul 
der.  "  You  are  lying  to  me,"  he  cried,  his  voice  chok 
ing.  "  It  isn't  true.  I  won't  believe  it !  " 

He  saw  the  anger  on  the  other's  face,  and  he  dropped 
his  arm  and  fell  into  his  chair,  eying  him  as  though  he 
were  an  apparition  out  of  some  fearful  dream.  When 
he  had  recovered  his  voice  he  said  hurriedly :  "  No, 
no,  not  that  —  I  —  I  beg  your  pardon.  I  don't  know 
what  I  am  saying  —  go  on  —  go  on.  Stop,  did 
you  wear  a  black  slouch  hat  and  a  light  military 
cloak?" 

"  Yes,  sir.  I  saw  you  thought  I  was  something  dif 
ferent  ;  but  the  lady  made  me  promise  I  wouldn't  let  you 
know.  She  didn't  want  you  to  think  she  was  worrying, 
I  guess." 

John,  too  much  agitated  to  speak,  his  brain  reeling, 
sat  and  stared  at  him. 

"  After  I  heard  what  happened  to  the  lady,"  the  man 
went  on,  "I  didn't  want  to  bother  you,  just  then.  I 
never  would  have,  sir,  if  I  hadn't  been  in  need.  And 
then  I  enlisted  —  here's  my  honorable  discharge  —  and 
when  I  got  back  I  lost  track  of  you.  It's  only  a  little 
bit  over  twenty  dollars  —  but  I  haven't  got  anything  to 
prove  it.  I'm  afraid  you'll  have  to  take  my  word,  sir ; 
but  —  " 

"Enough!"  cried  John,  rising  at  last.  "I  believe 
you.  I  know  you're  telling  me  the  truth.  Wait  here 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  381 

a  moment."  In  a  few  minutes  he  came  downstairs 
again  and  thrust  a  slip  into  the  other's  hand,  saying : 
"  Take  this,  it's  a  check  —  never  mind  the  amount. 
No  thanks,  no,  no  thanks;  it  is  I  that  owe  you  every 
thing." 

The  man,  seeing  his  agitation,  went  out  quietly,  while 
John  shut  the  door,  drew  the  chain,  turned  slowly  and 
went  up  stairs,  trying  to  think  clearly  through  the 
turmoil  of  the  revelation.  His  brain  was  hot  with  the 
agony  of  repentance  and  vain  regret  as  he  stood  outside 
the  door  of  her  bedroom.  He  entered  quietly.  She 
was  in  bed,  asleep  —  one  arm  thrown  back  under  her 
head,  the  other  straying  on  the  coverlet ;  her  hair 
fallen  free  over  one  shoulder,  against  the  open  throat ; 
the  shallow  smile  hovering  on  the  lips.  It  was  the 
Marjory  of  old,  serene,  beautiful  —  the  Marjory  he  had 
so  often  surprised  thus  as  he  came  home  late  from  his 
office. 

He  stood  at  the  foot  of  the  bed,  supporting  himself 
by  the  post,  trembling  and  swaying.  The  present,  the 
reality,  the  fact,  were  swept  away  by  a  whirlwind  of  emo 
tion.  He  stood  before  his  Marjory  again,  waiting  for 
her  eyes  to  flutter,  to  open,  —  to  call  him.  He  went  to 
her  side.  He  fell  on  his  knees  and  laid  his  hand  gently 
upon  her  arm  and  called,  "  Marjory  !  Mar-jory !  "  He 
had  forgotten  how  vain  was  the  summons. 

She  stirred  uneasily,  and  turned  her  head.  Her  eyes 
opened,  rested  a  moment  blankly  on  the  pleading  face, 
then  shut  again  in  sleep. 

He  stretched  out  his  hands  and  cried,  "Marjory  — 
Marjory,  how  I  have  wronged  you !  Oh,  come  back, 
come  back  just  for  a  moment,  just  to  forgive 
me!" 

The  shock  of  his  own  voice  frightened  him.      He 


382  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

buried  his  head  in  his  hands,  crying  out :    "  It  is  too 
cruel  —  too  cruel !     This  is  worse  than  death  !  " 

What  could  he  believe  ?  He  could  believe  in  life 
beyond  death  —  but  a  life  without  a  soul,  a  living  body 
without  a  mind,  this  eclipse  of  love,  this  death  in  life  — 
this  was  indeed  inscrutable  ! 


CHAPTER   XXXVIII 

AT  the  close  of  the  two  weeks  Helen  returned  to 
her  home.  "  Has  any  one  called  during  my  absence, 
Margaret  ? "  she  asked  carelessly,  as  the  maid  was 
unpacking  her  valise. 

"Yes,  ma'am,"  said  Margaret,  rising  to  her  feet, 
"several  gentlemen:  Doctor  Pancoast  and  Mr.  Gaunt, 
and  —  " 

"  My  cousin  !  has  he  been  here  ?  " 

"  Yes,  ma'am,  three  times." 

"  Three  times  ?  Why,  Margaret,  you  should  have 
told  him  I  was  away." 

"Please,  Mrs.  Blackstock,  I  did  —  the  second  time," 
Margaret  said,  with  a  smile  her  mistress  did  not  see. 
"  I  did  forget  the  first  time.  And  then  he  was  here  last 
night,  to  know  when  you  was  comin'  back." 

"  Oh,  very  well."  She  took  out  her  combs  and  let 
the  long  black  hair  tumble  over  her  shoulders.  "  Mar 
garet,  take  the  brush  and  smooth  it  out.  Well,  was  that 
all  ?  Did  no  one  else  come  ? " 

"Please,  Mrs.  Blackstock,  I'll  tell  you  now.  Indeed, 
there  was  lots  of  others,"  and  she  proceeded  to  enumer 
ate  a  dozen,  as  she  plied  the  brush. 

"What !  was  Mr.  Cameron  here  ?  "  the  mistress  said, 
stopping  her  suddenly,  with  a  show  of  interest.  "  What 
a  pity  ! " 

"  I  think  now,  he'll  be  around  to-night,  ma'am.  And 
shall  I  say  you  are  out  to  all  the  others?" 

383 


384  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

"  No,  that  is  unnecessary,"  said  Helen,  coldly.  "  Say 
nothing  until  you  have  brought  me  the  cards.  Put  my 
green  silk  ball-dress  on  the  bed,  and  then  that  will  be 
all." 

"  Is  it  goin'  out  you  are  to-night,  ma'am  ?  And  will 
we  stay  up  for  you  ? "  Margaret  asked,  secretly  wondering 
at  the  toilette. 

"  No,  I  shall  be  at  home  to-night,"  the  mistress  said, 
with  a  little  hesitation.  "  The  trip  was  so  dusty,  I  should 
like  to  get  into  something  fresh." 

"  Well  ? "  said  Ann,  the  second  maid,  when  Margaret, 
with  a  show  of  great  cunning,  had  retailed  the  con 
versation  to  the  kitchen. 

"And  she  thought  she  was  foolin'  me^  did  she?"  said 
Margaret,  closing  one  eye,  "askin"  so  particular  about 
Mr.  Cameron  !  Ann  Reilly,  you  should  have  seen  her 
face  when  I  proposed  to  say  she  was  out  to  them  all 
except  Mr.  Cameron  !  "  She  ended  with  a  dig  into  the 
listener's  ribs.  At  the  sound  of  their  laughter  the  cook 
came  up,  and  Frank,  the  utility  boy,  and  they,  too,  must 
have  their  fun  over  the  tale. 

"And  you  think  it's  a  dead  set  at  Mr.  Gaunt?"  asked 
Ann,  wisely. 

"  Ann  Reilly,  have  I  eyes  in  my  head  ?  What  did 
she  mean  when  she  w'u'dn't  go  to  the  opera  that  night 
with  Doctor  Pancoast,  sayin'  as  she  had  another  engage 
ment  ?  And  did  she  go  out  ?  She  did  not.  She  stayed 
in  all  evenin',  a-lettin'  on  to  read,  and  when  the  bell'd 
give  a  ring,  and  I'd  bring  up  a  card,  w'u'dn't  she  jump ! 
And  why  did  she  say  she  was  out  to  all  o'  them  when 
she  had  nothin'  to  do  but  hold  a  book  in  her  hands  ? 
It's  my  belief  she  didn't  read  a  word  of  it,  either.  I 
sneaked  a  look  over  her  shoulder  three  times,  and  she 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  385 

hadn't  turned  a  page.  Why  ?  Because  she  was  expectin1 
him,  you  see.  And  when  he  come  the  next  night,  she 
was  that  nervous  when  she  saw  the  card,  she  turned 
her  back  on  me  that  I  sh'u'dn't  see  her  face.  They're 
some  sort  of  cousin,  I  think;  and  it's  my  belief  she  has 
been  in  love  wid  him  all  her  life." 

"  He  be  a  widow,  ain't  he  ? "  put  in  Frank,  grinning. 

"That,  or  he's  fixed  the  way  she  is,"  retorted  the 
other,  with  a  laugh. 

"  Do  you  think  she'll  get  'im  ?  "  inquired  the  cook. 

"  She  ought  to  !  Mercy  on  us  !  The  number  of  men 
she's  kept  a-danglin'  at  her  heels  is  somethin'  awful ! " 
She  threw  up  her  hands,  and  then  added,  with  a  nod  of 
conviction,  "Besides,  he's  pretty  regular  in  his  visits." 

Meanwhile,  unaware  of  the  basement  tribunal,  Helen 
was  dressing  for  the  evening.  A  battle  of  clashing 
desires  and  impulses  was  going  on  in  her  heart,  as  she 
stood  in  the  middle  of  the  room,  debating. 

"  What  a  fool  I  am  !  "  she  thought  to  herself  ;  "  he 
has  called  three  times.  It  is  just  as  I  wished.  He 
misses  me ;  he  needs  me.  I  should  have  stayed  away 
another  week.  No  matter ;  I  will  be  wise  ;  I  will  say  I 
am  out  to-night;  I  — "  She  gave  a  scornful  laugh. 
"  Oh,  no,  no,  no  !  Why  deceive  myself?  I  know  I  will 
see  him,  I  know  I  couldn't  have  stayed  away  another 
day." 

In  her  agitation  she  began  to  walk  like  a  caged  ani 
mal.  "  What  an  actress  —  what  an  actress  !  All  my 
life  I  have  played  at  love.  I  have  made  a  score  of  men 
adore  me,  I  have  been  everything  to  every  man,  I  have 
played  with  myself  until  there  isn't  a  single  genuine 
emotion  left  in  me  except  —  except  when  I  stand  in  his 
presence." 

2C 


386  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

She  stood  still  a  moment,  tapping  the  floor  with  her 
foot,  then  twice  she  shook  her  head  slowly,  and  the 
corners  of  her  lips  wavered. 

"I  know  it  cannot  be,  and  yet  I  go  on  striving  —  he 
thinks  only  of  her  —  of  the  dead  !  He  will  never  think 
of  any  one  else ;  and  out  of  all  the  world,  yes,  all  the 
shallow,  trifling  world  I  have  known,  he  alone  is  true 
and  noble.  Oh,  I  love  him  so  that  I  sometimes  want  to 
throw  myself  at  his  feet  and  tell  him,  come  what  may. 
No,  no,  no  —  I  don't  mean  that,  I  can't  mean  that !  Oh, 
where  do  I  stand  ?  If  he  should  love  me,  it  would  not 
be  he.  I  know  all  that,  and  yet  I  cannot  give  him  up ;  I 
cannot  decide  anything." 

Suddenly  she  stopped  and  clutched  at  her  heart,  and 
her  lips  grew  blue.  By  a  supreme  effort  she  reached 
the  mantel,  poured  out  some  whiskey,  and  drank  it  down. 
Then,  faint  and  dizzy,  she  fought  her  way  to  the  bed  and 
lay  down,  her  heart  beating  like  a  trip-hammer.  There 
she  lay,  rigid,  without  even  a  finger  stirring,  for  ten, 
twenty,  thirty  minutes,  until  the  attack  had  passed. 

"And  this  is  why  I  cannot  give  him  up,"  she  said  at 
last,  coming  out  of  the  dark  valley.  "  When  it  is  only 
a  question  of  a  few  more  months,  a  few  more  weeks  — 
who  knows  ?  perhaps  days  —  what  do  I  care  for  any 
thing  else  in  all  the  world  but  that  one  man  ?  I  —  I 
believe  I  would  give  my  soul  for  him  ! " 

Then  all  at  once  the  mood  dissolved,  and  the  actress 
returned.  She  sat  up,  rose  to  her  feet,  and  stood  before 
the  mirror. 

"What,  tears?"  she  cried,  with  impatience.  "They 
only  make  the  eyes  red  and  ugly  !  " 

She  dressed  slowly,  debating  every  detail,  scrutinizing 
every  pose.  At  the  end  she  laughed  and  said,  "  Heavens, 
I  am  more  absurd  to-night  than  even  on  that  first  morn- 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  387 

ing  when  I  dressed  so  carefully  to  meet  him."  All  at 
once  she  closed  her  lips  tightly  and  cried,  "  There !  the 
die  is  cast.  I  will  not  see  him  if  he  calls." 

A  cousin  who  lived  with  her  was  away  until  the  next 
week,  so  she  sat  down  to  dinner  alone.  That  over,  she 
went  upstairs  to  the  library,  took  a  chair  nervously, 
picked  up  the  first  book  under  her  hand,  tossed  it  aside, 
and  went  to  the  piano.  The  clock  stared  at  her  from 
the  mantelpiece.  It  was  only  eight  and  he  never  came 
before  the  half  hour.  Thrice  she  rose  and  went  to  the 
window  looking  out  over  the  avenue,  where  the  lamp 
posts  stood  like  sentinels  watching  over  the  hidden 
city. 

A  little  before  the  accustomed  time  came  the  familiar 
two  quick  rings,  and  as  though  to  drown  out  the  sum 
mons,  Helen  started  to  play  hurriedly.  Then,  remem 
bering  he  would  hear,  she  went  hastily  to  the  table  and 
began  to  arrange  the  books,  and  in  this  attitude  Mar 
garet  found  her  as  she  came  in,  beaming,  with  the  card. 

Helen  took  it,  called  up  all  her  courage,  and  glanced 

at  the  name  — 

JOHN  GAUNT. 

The  letters  almost  seemed  to  speak  the  words.  She 
became  so  calm  that  even  at  that  moment  the  domi 
nant  emotion  was  one  of  astonishment  at  her  own  self- 
possession. 

"  Say  I  am  out,  Margaret." 

She  watched  the  maid  leave  the  room  and  begin  the 
descent  of  the  stairs,  when  all  of  a  sudden  the  strength 
of  her  resolution  snapped.  She  ran  to  the  door  and 
called  her  back.  "  I  have  changed  my  mind;  ask  him 
to  come  up,"  she  said,  standing  in  the  shadow  where 
the  servant  could  not  see  her  face.  When  she  heard 
his  step,  woman  of  the  world  that  she  was,  all  her 


388  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

training  forsook  her.  She  had  meant  to  receive  him 
with  her  back  to  the  curtains,  one  arm  holding  them 
so  as  to  throw  her  figure  against  a  flood  of  light.  In 
stead,  she  stood  nervously  in  the  dark  at  the  head  of 
the  stairs,  her  arms  by  her  sides,  until  he  came.  Then 
she  put  her  hand  into  his,  and  said  quickly,  turning 
away,  "  It's  cosier  in  the  library  ;  shall  we  go  up  there  ? " 

She  led  the  way  up  the  dim  flight.  Once  her  hand 
touched  his  on  the  banisters,  and  she  thought  —  a  slip, 
,  a  single  misstep,  and  she  would  be  in  his  arms  ! 

"  What,  Nell !  all  this  is  not  for  me  ? "  exclaimed 
John,  when  they  were  in  the  library  under  the  lights. 

He  glanced  down  at  the  figure  in  green,  the  sweeping 
skirts,  the  rounded  arms  and  bright  shoulders,  the  deep 
red  rose  in  her  hair,  the  black  tresses  without  a  touch  of 
gray,  and  he  thought  to  himself :  "  There's  something 
about  Nell  you  don't  see  in  women  nowadays.  It's  in 
the  way  she  moves  and  carries  her  head,  I  suppose." 

"All  for  you,"  she  answered,  with  a  bow  that  hid 
her  cheeks.  "  Well  ? "  and  she  looked  up  archly  at  the 
tall  figure  that  seemed  to  overshadow  everything  else  in 
the  room. 

His  face,  that  had  been  sombre  as  he  entered,  relaxed, 
a  twinkle  came  into  his  eyes,  and  he  said  quizzingly  : 
"  Pshaw,  Nell,  not  for  an  old  man  like  me  !  Come,  who 
is  it  ?  That  young  Cameron  ?  You  know  you're  going 
to  marry  him." 

She  looked  at  him  so  strangely,  and  became  so  quiet, 
that,  manlike,  he  felt  quite  satisfied  with  the  accuracy  of 
his  guess.  When  she  had  placed  him  in  the  easiest 
chair,  she  brought  him  a  box  of  his  favorite  cigars,  and 
presented  them  to  him  with  a  mock  courtesy. 

"  At  least  acknowledge  I  know  how  to  make  you 
comfortable." 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  389 

"  Yes,  Nell,  you  do.  It's  a  big  temptation  to  impose 
upon  you." 

"  You  called  while  I  was  away,"  Helen  said  suddenly, 
gambler  that  she  was,  seeking  some  sign  of  embarrass 
ment  in  his  answer.  "  I  meant  to  tell  you." 

"  Yes,  three  times."  He  sank  back  in  his  chair  and 
rested  his  head  against  the  cushions,  glancing  sidewise, 
in  smoker  fashion,  at  the  eddies  whirling  off  the  end  of 
his  cigar.  "  What  a  good  friend  you  are,  Nell.  You're 
always  bright  and  cheery,  and  never  complain  of  my 
glum  ways.  I  don't  believe  another  person  would  stand 
it.  Even  Jack  runs  off  at  times.  I  wish  you'd  been 
here  last  week,  Nell,  more  for  my  sake  than  yours." 

The  moment  she  had  looked  in  his  face  her  instinct 
had  told  her  something  had  taken  place  during  her 
absence,  something  that  weighed  heavily  on  his  heart. 
"  Has  it  been  hard  again,  John  ?  "  she  said.  She  re 
proached  herself  with  the  caprice  that  had  taken  her 
from  town. 

"  I  have  been  a  little  restless." 

"  What  is  it,  John  ?  " 

He  shook  his  head  twice  slowly. 

She  winced  at  the  barriers  to  his  confidence  which 
were  always  rising  up  between  them. 

"  Won't  you  let  me  help  you  ?  Oh,  John,  think  ;  we 
are  man  and  woman.  We  are  not  children  any  longer. 
We  have  each  known  sorrow.  Why  should  you  conceal 
yours  from  me  ?  Why  not  tell  me  ?  Let  me  help  you. 
If  it  is  a  confidence,  can't  you  trust  me  ?  There  isn't  a 
thing  I  would  hide  from  you." 

"No,  Nell,"  said  John,  resolutely.  He  had  been  star 
ing  ahead  all  the  while,  never  glancing  at  her  face.  "  No 
—  I  must  fight  out  my  battles  alone,  without  saddling 
the  burden  on  you.  And  besides,  it  is  not  my  nature 


390  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

to  do  otherwise.  No,  Nell,  no,  you've  a  good  heart 
and  a  kind  heart,  though  I  once  misjudged  you.  I 
thank  you  none  the  less." 

Such  a  starved  feeling  as  came  into  her  woman's 
heart !  To  love  hopelessly,  impossibly,  was  terrible ;  but 
to  be  barred  out  of  his  heart,  to  be  forever  checked  from 
pouring  out  to  him  her  sympathy  and  help  —  that  was 
cruel  beyond  words.  She  shook  her  head,  she  put  her 
hand  to  her  throat  to  subdue  the  lump  that  would  rise 
there.  "How  absolutely,"  she  thought,  "all  my  plans 
fall  to  the  ground  the  moment  I  look  into  his  eyes.  I 
don't  know  what  I  say,  I  have  no  control  over  what  I 
do."  Then  aloud  she  said,  merely  stumbling  on  his 
words  in  her  search  for  something  to  be  said,  "  What  do 
you  mean  ?  You  misjudged  me  —  once  — when  ? " 

"  Don't  you  remember  ?  "  he  said,  smiling.  "  We  can 
talk  it  over  now,  and  take  a  hearty  laugh  over  it.  Why, 
when  we  were  boy  and  girl  together  down  at  Uncle 
Nim's.  I  thought  I  was  desperately  in  love  with  you 
for  a  while,  and  when  you  went  off — why,  I  decided 
that  you  had  only  been  amusing  yourself,  and  had  flung 
me  over  when  you  were  tired  of  —  of  a  young  country 
fellow,  don't  you  know  ? " 

Every  word  he  had  said  to  her  that  night  had  some 
how  left  a  wound  in  her  heart. 

"  And  so  you  thought  that,  did  you  ? " 

There  was  such  a  dry  note  in  her  voice  as  she  spoke 
that  John  looked  up  startled. 

"  Why,  Nell !  " 

"  Listen,"  she  said,  with  a  compelling  gesture.  "  I 
want  you  to  know  the  truth."  She  rose  and  went  to 
the  end  of  the  room,  clenching  her  fingers  until  the 
nails  cut  into  her  hands,  for  the  time  had  come,  and  she 
feared  what  she  might  say. 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  391 

"  No,  don't  rise ;  sit  where  you  are,"  she  said,  coming 
and  standing  before  him.  "As  you  say,  we  can  now 
talk  over  these  things,  and  so  —  I  want  you  to  know  the 
truth.  I  have  feared,  yes,  known,  that  you  misjudged  me. 
I  told  you  there  was  nothing  in  my  life  I  would  fear  to 
tell  you,  and  there  is  nothing.  I  want  you  to  know  me 
just  as  I  am,  John,  not  as  others  know  me."  She 
paused,  drew  her  hand  heavily  across  her  eyes,  and  said  : 
"  Tell  me,  John,  did  you  never  connect  my  leaving  with 
Captain  Brace  ?  Did  you  never  guess  who  it  was  warned 
you  of  him  ? " 

"  What !  you  —  wrote,  Nell  ?  "  He  leaped  to  his  feet. 
"I  did  think  so  —  I  did  for  a  moment,  at  the  time." 
Then  he  stopped,  looked  at  her,  and  said,  "  But  Brace 
—  what  can  you  mean,  Nell  ? " 

"Please  sit  down,"  she  said,  pushing  him  gently  into 
his  chair,  "  and  don't  interrupt,  I  beg  of  you  ;  I  want  to 
finish.  When  I  was  a  girl  in  school,  only  just  sixteen,  I 
met  Westlake,  whom  you  call  Ned  Brace.  I  —  I  don't 
want  to  go  into  details.  I  —  I  was  not  a  wise  girl,  I 
was  very  romantic,  very  silly,  and  I  believed  what  he 
told  me.  I  —  I  promised  to  marry  him,  and  wrote  such 
foolish,  such  compromising  letters,  that  his  hold  on  me 
was  fearful.  He  wanted  me  to  run  away  with  him. 
God  knows  how  I  ever  escaped ;  but  I  did.  I  sent  him 
away,  but  what  I  had  written  I  could  not  recall.  John, 
you  understand,  don't  you  ?  a  schoolgirl,  only  sixteen, 
her  head  turned  with  novels."  She  stopped  again  a  mo 
ment  to  regain  composure,  and  continued  more  quietly: 
"John,  you  have  made  the  mistake.  At  first  I  did 
mean  to  play  with  you,  just  as  I  had  with  other  men, 
but  I  did  fall  in  love  with  you,  John,  truly  and  deeply  — 
that  day  I  tried  to  jump  the  roan.  It  was  you  that 
deceived  yourself.  No,  John,  you  never  loved  me  — 


392  ARROWS  OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

not  then.  For  I  saw  it  all  —  and  —  and  such  tempta 
tions  would  come  to  me  to  win  you  anyway.  For  I  could, 
yes,  John,  I  could  have  done  so.  But,  don't  you  see,  I 
loved  you.  It  was  your  love,  not  merely  you,  I  wanted; 
and  that  I  saw  I  could  not  have,  saw  it  plainly  the  day 
we  passed  Captain  Brace.  When  I  saw  him  and  thought 
what  he  might  tell  you,  blindly,  without  thinking,  I  ran 
away.  That  is  the  true  story." 

He  again  made  a  move  as  though  to  speak,  and  again 
she  checked  him  with  her  hand. 

"Not  yet,  John,  just  a  little  more.  Don't  you  see 
why  I  have  told  you  ?  My  life  has  not  been  a  happy 
one  —  no,  nor  a  good  one.  It  has  been  selfish  and  shal 
low.  But  that  chapter  in  my  girlhood  is  the  one  true 
spot  in  my  life,  and  I  could  not  bear  to  have  you  mis 
judge  that."  She  moved  a  step  forward,  her  eyes  bright 
ening,  her  hands  stretched  out  toward  him,  and  swept 
away  by  her  emotion,  cried  :  "  For  I  did  love  you,  John  ; 
I  loved  you  so  it  seemed  my  heart  used  to  stop  when  I 
heard  you  galloping  up  the  avenue,  and  I  used  to  search 
your  face  to  see  something  in  your  eyes  that  never  came. 
Aunt  Hester  saw ;  she  could  have  told  you.  I  only  mean 
this :  that  was  a  time !  a  love !  yes,  a  man  !  I  have 
never  forgotten.  I  married,  but  I  did  not  love  my  hus 
band —  no  woman  could  have.  All  my  life  I  have 
remembered  those  days.  That  feeling  I  could  not  for 
get,  though  of  course  I  had  to  conquer  it.  Oh,  yes,  of 
course  I  did  that."  There  was  a  pitiful  quaver  in  her 
voice.  "  Don't  you  see  why  I  wanted  you  to  know  me 
as  I  am  ?  I  —  I'm  going  to  tell  you  something  else,  so 
that  you  may  understand.  I  have  known  for  a  long 
while  that  I  might  die  any  day.  Don't  start  so,  John, 
I  am  not  frightened.  Yes,  a  great  shock  would  do 
it  any  day,  the  doctor  says ;  it's  heart  disease.  No, 


ARROWS.  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  393 

don't,  John !  Do  you  think  I  care  ?  I  have  no  fear. 
I  don't  believe,  but  I  don't  care.  It  will  be  a  relief." 

She  turned  and  walked  away,  and  then  came  back 
and  tried  to  smile,  and  put  her  hand  on  his  shoulder, 
and  said  sadly :  "  I  think,  John,  if  fate  had  been  kinder 
to  me,  and  I  had  stayed  and  you  had  married  me  —  I  think 
I  should  have  been  to-day  a  better  woman.  Oh,  John, 
when  one  can  see  the  gate  at  the  end  of  the  path,  yes, 
almost  touch  it,  do  you  think  one  cares  for  anything  but 
the  truth  ?  Oh,  say  you  pity  me  —  you  do,  you  must !" 

"  Yes,  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart,"  he  said,  and  he 
stood  up  and  took  her  hands.  "  God  knows  I  —  I  pity 
you.  How  you  have  suffered  !  " 

Only  pity !  She  looked  imploringly  into  his  eyes, 
faint  under  the  touch  of  his  hands.  She  wanted  to  fling 
herself  into  those  strong  arms  and  cry,  "  Oh,  don't  you 
see  ?  I  love  you  now  !  " 

But  she  did  not.  One  thread  still  held  her,  —  the 
thought  of  the  look  that  would  come  over  his  face. 

"  Please,"  she  begged,  "  please,"  and  drew  her  hands 
away,  and  half  turning  from  him,  covered  her  eyes  with 
one  arm;  "just  a  moment,  John  —  a  moment  and  I  shall 
be  all  right." 

He  stood  waiting  awkwardly,  ill  at  ease,  not  knowing 
how  to  meet  the  situation,  until  at  last  he  said  in  desper 
ation,  "  You  never  told  your  husband  ? " 

She  shook  her  head  ;  she  felt  herself  going.  All  the 
world,  honor,  good  fame,  were  nothing  now.  She  must 
tell  him,  she  must  implore  his  pity — beseech  him. 

Then  through  the  chaos  of  her  brain  she  heard  him 
say  :  "  How  strange  that  is  !  Marjory  was  right.  She 
knew  you  loved  me,  and  said  you  had  not  told  him." 

Her  name !  That  was  the  answer.  Her  body  quiv 
ered  at  the  words,  she  straightened  herself  up,  flung 


394  ARROWS  OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

down  her  arm,  and  cried,  "I  am  not  well — you  will  have 
to  go  —  now  —  yes,  now — oh,  quickly,  quickly ! — go — 
I  beg  of  you  !  " 

"  I  will  not  leave  you,"  he  protested,  frightened  at  the 
pallor  that  had  come  over  her.  "  You  must  have  a  doc 
tor,  Nell.  I  dare  not  leave  you." 

"  No,  no,  no,  I'm  all  right.  I  must  go  to  my  room.  It 
is  only  the  usual  attack.  I  must  go  to  my  room.  I 
know  what  to  do.  Good  night  —  no,  nothing,  nothing, 
good  night ! " 

She  pushed  him  to  the  door,  closed  it  behind  him,  and 
then  fell  on  her  knees,  clutching  at  the  curtain  and  cry 
ing,  "  Thank  God  !  he  is  gone." 

Then  as  she  heard  the  fall  of  his  steps  on  the  stairs,  a 
single  word  was  torn  from  her —  "John  !  " 

The  steps  ceased.  She  put  her  head  between  her 
hands,  and  prayed,  "O  God,  bring  him  back,  bring 
him  back,  and  let  him  see  me  thus !  " 

All  at  once  the  steps  fell  again,  lower  and  lower,  and 
at  length  the  door  slammed  through  the  silent  house. 
She  waited  a  second,  all  the  hope  gone  from  out  her  face. 
Then  she  struggled  to  her  feet  and  tottered  to  the  win 
dow,  straining  her  eyes  into  the  night,  and  when  he  was 
quite  gone,  she  dropped  her  head  and  whispered,  "  The 
End." 

When  she  reached  her  room  the  sight  of  her  face  in 
the  mirror  shocked  her.  She  put  her  hands  to  her 
throat  to  check  the  sobs,  and  cried  aloud  :  "  O  God, 
why  couldn't  he  see?  I  told  him,  I  told  him  —  and  he 
would  not  understand  !  Oh,  if  he  had  called  me,  I  would 
have  followed  him  to  the  ends  of  the  earth  !  My  God, 
my  God,  what  will  become  of  me  ? "  And  in  a  torrent 
of  tears,  choking,  panting,  she  cast  herself  headlong  on 
the  bed. 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  395 

At  that  moment  John,  hurried  home  by  the  intensity 
of  his  thoughts,  was  saying :  "She  knows  she  is  going  to 
die,  and  she  is  as  calm  as  that.  She  shames  me ; "  and 
for  the  first  time  in  many  days,  as  he  went  his  way 
home,  he  dwelt  on  another's  sorrows. 

"  Poor  Nell !  "  he  said,  as  he  reached  the  park.  "  I 
wonder  if  she  did  tell  me  all ;  they  say  we  never  do.  She 
doesn't  realize  it,  but  I  fear  she  still  loves  me.  What  a 
wonderful  kettle  of  probability  and  accident  life  is,  after 
all,"  he  continued,  musing.  "  If  she  had  stayed,  who 
knows  what  would  have  happened  ?  I  wonder  if  I 
should  have  married  her  ?  Arid  if  I  had,  I  wonder  what 
my  life  would  have  been  to-day  ? "  The  next  moment 
he  would  have  given  anything  to  have  recalled  the  words. 


CHAPTER   XXXIX 

ON  the  next  afternoon  John  hurried  off  to  call  on 
Helen.  All  the  sleepless  night  he  had  been  seriously 
alarmed  at  her  condition,  and  now  he  was  going  to  talk 
over  her  health,  to  insist  upon  some  precaution.  Then, 
too,  he  reproached  himself  for  having  been  so  cold  on 
the  preceding  night. 

"  She  came  to  me  for  help  and  sympathy,"  he  said  to 
himself,  as  he  took  up  his  cane.  "  Poor  little  woman  !  I 
gave  her  little  of  either.  What  pluck  she  has  !  " 

He  went  to  meet  her  eagerly,  with  new-born  curiosity 
and  admiration.  Towering  above  the  crowd,  he  passed 
along  the  crowded  thoroughfare,  with  its  boisterous 
acclaim  of  life.  At  Twenty-third  Street  he  turned 
gratefully  into  the  comparative  quiet  of  the  avenue  of 
mansions,  and  losing  interest  in  the  throng  beside  him, 
he  began  to  turn  over  in  his  mind  the  story  he  had 
heard  on  the  night  before.  So  engrossed  was  he  with 
his  thoughts,  that  he  ran  up  what  seemed  to  be  the 
right  steps,  without  noticing  until  he  reached  the  top 
that  the  bell  was  hung  with  crape. 

"  Good  heavens,  what  a  mistake ! "  he  cried,  startled 
by  such  a  reminder  of  his  darker  nature.  "  I  am  really 
getting  absent-minded." 

He  turned  his  back  hurriedly  on  the  unwelcome  sight, 
and  went  on  down  the  sidewalk,  looking  for  the  number. 
All  of  a  sudden,  before  the  next  house  he  came  to  a 
dead  stop,  and  a  cry  escaped  him.  He  went  back  and 
looked  up.  It  was  her  house. 

396 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  397 

"  Great  God,  not  that,  not  that !  " 

He  forced  himself  up  the  stairs  again,  and  bewildered, 
incredulous,  and  stunned,  rang  the  black-hung  bell.  He 
was  forced  to  repeat  the  summons  twice  before  the  door 
at  last  swung  open.  He  stepped  in  hurriedly,  glanced 
at  the  agitated  servants,  and  poured  out  a  string  of 
questions.  "  What  does  this  crape  mean  ?  What  has 
happened  ?  Who  is  dead  ?  Where  is  Mrs.  Blackstock  ?" 

"Oh,  sir,  don't  you  —  don't  you  know  ?"  stammered 
the  maid,  her  eyes  swollen  with  terror.  "  We  found  her 
in  her  room  this  morning,  on  the  bed,  with  all  her 
clothes  on.  The  doctor  has  been  here,  and  says  it  was 
heart  disease.  Oh,  won't  you  come  in  and  see  him  ? 
No,  he's  gone,  you  can't.  I  —  I'm  so  worked  up,  sir, 
I  —  I  don't  know  what  I'm  saying." 

He  checked  the  hysterical  woman  sternly,  and  made 
her  answer  his  questions,  listening  dumbly  to  the  replies. 
The  family  had  been  summoned,  everything  was  being 
attended  to,  a  brother  had  charge  of  all.  There  was 
nothing  to  be  done.  He  hurried  away  out  of  the  dark, 
still  house,  where  the  dead  seemed  to  cry  out  to  him 
through  the  silence,  and  went  down  the  street  without 
glancing  behind. 

He  wanted  to  put  his  hands  over  his  eyes  and  shut 
out  the  terrible  sight,  he  wanted  to  run.  For  even  on 
the  shock  of  her  death,  swift  and  accusing  came  the 
memory  of  his  thoughts  of  the  night  before,  of  the  many 
times  he  had  sought  her.  All  at  once  he  saw  himself 
standing  blindfolded  on  the  brink  of  a  precipice;  the 
next  moment,  snatched  away  by  the  hand  of  Providence. 
Bitterly  he  remembered  his  words,  his  mind  exaggerat 
ing  and  swelling  them  beyond  all  proportion.  He  drew 
a  deep  breath  :  he  could  hardly  understand  how  he  had 
escaped. 


398  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

Wretched  and  self-accusing,  he  went  home  and  knelt 
down  and  asked  forgiveness  of  the  eyes  that  knew  him 
not.  He  sat  broken  in  spirit  all  the  afternoon,  watch 
ing  her  as  she  strayed  about  with  the  sad  sweet  smile, 
and  the  eyes  that  were  always  searching.  What  would 
he  not  have  given  to  recall  those  few  wretched  words ! 
But  they  were  beyond  recall,  a  constant,  ever  present 
reproach.  He  asked  himself  again  and  again,  was  he 
guilty  ?  —  would  he  have  been  ?  At  one  time  he  wanted 
to  rush  to  Jack,  to  pour  out  the  whole  miserable  story, 
to  seek  his  verdict  —  to  tell  some  one  —  not  to  be  for 
ever  his  own  accuser  and  his  own  judge. 

That  night  as  he  sat  alone  in  the  library,  holding  a 
book  listlessly,  the  storm  burst  over  him,  the  conflict 
which  he  had  known  in  the  bottom  of  his  heart  could 
not  be  avoided.  The  book  had  dropped  into  his  lap ; 
he  was  thinking  of  Helen's  death,  and  he  had  said, 
almost  aloud,  "  How  terrible  is  death  !  Always  sudden, 
always  a  shock,  always  unexpected,"  when  something 
entered  his  soul,  and  there  and  then  broke  over  him 
the  full  horror  of  death,  his  father's  horror.  Stunned, 
impotent,  he  sat  gripping  the  arms  of  his  chair,  as 
though  he  would  crush  them  in  his  palms.  Then  as 
once  the  stricken  CEdipus,  with  bleeding  eyes,  cursed 
his  fate,  out  of  his  soul  went  up  the  final  cry  of  agony. 

"  Was  it  for  this  that  I  was  born  ?  To  come  into  the 
doom  of  my  father,  to  fight  night  and  day  against  a  spec 
tre  ?  It  is  unjust,  unjust,  unjust,  to  give  a  human  being 
to  such  an  inexorable  fate ! "  The  hopelessness  of  in 
heritance,  the  fruitless  battle,  the  decreed  end,  out  of 
the  pursuing  cloud  flashed  up  before  him  and  fell  like 
thunderbolts  into  the  panic  of  his  brain. 

Long  after  midnight,  Jack,  coming  in,  found  him 
leaning  forward  in  his  chair,  his  elbows  on  his  knees, 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  399 

his  chin  in  his  hands,  staring  ahead  with  sculptural 
intensity.  At  the  sound  of  Jack's  voice  he  started  up 
wildly,  crying :  "  Who's  there  ?  Oh,  Jack,  you  at  last ! " 

"John,  for  the  love  of  Heaven,  don't  look  at  me  in 
that  way  !  "  cried  the  major,  drawing  back  at  his  friend's 
haggard  face.  "  What  is  it  ? " 

John  checked  himself,  ashamed  of  having  exhibited 
so  much  emotion.  A  moment  ago  he  had  been  groping 
in  the  dark,  praying  for  a  hand  to  grasp,  for  some  one 
to  whom  he  could  lay  bare  his  soul,  to  whom  he  could 
surrender  the  barriers.  Now  that  another  man  was 
there,  even  in  the  hour  of  his  agony,  the  human  instinct 
checked  him.  Show  Jack  a  little  corner  of  his  soul  he 
must  —  but  into  his  voice  no  trace  of  his  emotion  should 
come. 

He  sat  quietly  a  moment,  his  lips  tightening;  then 
he  looked  up,  and  said  coldly  :  — 

"Jack,  sit  down  —  I  am  glad  you  have  come.  I'll  tell 
you  what  it  is.  It  is  fate.  It  is  the  inheritance  of 
my  father.  I  have  felt  it  coming  for  months  —  the  old 
horror  of  death.  I've  got  to  tell  you,  Jack.  I've  got  to 
have  some  help.  I  am  talking  to  you  calmly  in  a  matter- 
of-fact  way,  but,  Jack  —  as  I  sat  here,  all  at  once  every 
thing  seemed  to  fall  away,  and  I  could  feel  that  fearful, 
inexorable  force  in  the  house,  on  the  stairs,  coming 
into  —  " 

"  Stop,  for  God's  sake,  stop  ! "  cried  Jack.  "  Man,  are 
you  in  your  senses  ?  Think  now.  These  things  don't 
begin  of  themselves.  Something  has  started  you,  some 
thing  has  happened." 

"  Helen  died  last  night,"  said  John,  shortly,  watching 
his  friend's  face ;  "just  after  she  told  me  she  was  await 
ing  it  at  any  moment.  She  must  have  died  as  I  was 
closing  the  door." 


400  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

"  Horrible ! " 

The  cry  broke  from  Jack.  He  turned  his  back  and 
began  to  pace  the  room.  The  words  John  had  spoken, 
words  which  should  have  been  told  with  a  voice  wrung 
with  emotion,  had  overwhelmed  him  by  the  irony  of 
their  calm.  He  came  back  and  grasped  his  arm.  "John, 
think!  Are  you  sure  this  means  what  you  say  —  are 
you  sure  it  is  your  father  coming  out  in  you  ? " 

The  other  bowed  his  head.  "That  is  why  the  fight 
is  so  desperate.  It  doesn't  seem  right  to  have  to  in 
herit  such  a  curse — and  oh,  Jack,  what  of  little  Emily?" 

"Yes,  what  of  her?     That  is  the  question." 

John  rose,  deliberately  turning  his  head  until  he  met 
Jack's  firm  glance. 

"  That  is  the  question,"  he  said,  as  though  to  himself. 
He  stretched  his  arms  up  to  their  fullest,  and  drew  a 
long  breath. 

"  Come,  Jack,"  he  said  abruptly,  "  I  must  have  a 
walk." 

Jack  nodded  and  led  the  way,  and  for  an  hour,  arm  in 
arm,  without  speaking,  they  went  stalking  around  the 
park,  while  the  sidewalks  echoed  with  the  sound  of 
their  passing. 

That  was  the  beginning.  Night  after  night  they 
would  go  through  the  same  routine.  Day  and  night 
Jack  watched  over  his  friend.  Often  waking  out  of  a 
heavy  slumber,  he  heard  John  tossing  restlessly,  and, 
pretending  sleeplessness,  would  go  into  his  room,  sitting 
patiently  on  the  foot  of  the  bed  until  at  last  he  heard 
him  drop  into  an  uneasy  sleep.  Jack  made  it  a  point 
to  stay  at  home  of  evenings,  and  long  past  midnight  he 
would  sit  up,  rattling  away  in  his  own  style.  Some 
times,  dozing  off  from  sheer  weariness,  he  would  wake 
with  a  start,  to  find  John  deep  in  revery,  and  would 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  401 

jump  to  his  feet,  clap  him  on  the  shoulder,  and  say,  with 
a  resolute  shake  of  his  head,  "  Next  round,  John,  my 
boy ! " 

"  So  it  is,"  John  would  say,  straightening  up  and 
trying  to  laugh,  "so  it  is,  Johnnie  Gay." 

One  night  when  they  had  been  sitting  a  long  while  in 
silence,  broken  every  now  and  then  by  the  thrumming 
of  the  guitar,  John  went  to  the  mantelpiece,  and  came 
back,  holding  in  his  hand  a  pack  of  cards. 

"Here,  Jack,"  he  said,  dropping  into  a  chair,  "let's 
try  these.  They'll  keep  my  mind  busy." 

Jack  took  the  pack  with  a  grave  face.  "  Do  you 
dare,  John  Gaunt — remembering  some  one  else?  No 
—  if  you  conquer  this  with  something  else  —  cards, 
drink,  or  drugs  —  that  thing  will  have  cbriquered  you. 
You've  got  to  fight  it  alone,  old  fellow,  and  even  I  can't 
help  you  much."  And  looking  him  a  moment  steadily 
in  the  eyes,  he  threw  the  cards  into  the  waste-basket. 

"No,  Jack,  you  can't  help  me,"  asserted  John. 
"There  is  only  one  who  could  do  that.  You  know 
whom  I  mean  —  Marjory  —  and  that's  why  I  miss  her 
so.  Well,  well  —  there  —  enough  —  it's  queer  some 
times,  Jack  ;  do  you  know,  I  feel  at  times  as  though  it 
were  my  father  and  my  mother  fighting  out  the  battle 
for  my  soul,  and  that  I  had  nothing  to  do  with  it.  At 
times  it  seems  as  though  I  could  distinctly  feel  her 
influence." 

"Of  course  I  believe  it,"  Jack  cried,  grasping  at 
the  straw.  "  If  you  inherit  something  from  your  father, 
why,  of  course,  you  get  something  too  from  your 
mother. 

"/  There  are  more  things  in  heaven  and  earth,  Horatio, 
Than  are  dreamed  of  in  our  philosophy.' 

I  was  reading  that  the  other  night  —  who  knows  ? " 

2D 


402  ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY 

Once  or  twice,  waking  up  in  the  middle  of  the  night, 
little  Emily  had  found  her  father  standing  by  her  bed. 
When  she  questioned  him  he  hurried  away.  The  child 
never  knew  how  often  he  visited  her  bedside  and  knelt 
there  —  nor  could  she  see  the  look  on  his  face  of  even 
ings,  when  in  the  dark  she  clasped  her  hands  and 
poured  out  her  simple,  childish  faith,  rising  to  realms 
where  he  could  not  follow.  What  would  he  not  have 
given  so  to  believe,  without  a  seeking  or  a  doubt ! 

At  other  times,  in  the  stillness  of  the  night,  he  would 
get  up  and  walk  the  floor  until  again  his  strength  came, 
and  he  would  close  his  lips  and  say,  "  Never  —  I  will 
never  give  in  to  it !  "  It  was  as  though  his  will  were 
against  the  universe. 

Out  of  the  shadow  he  came  at  last,  weak  and  halting, 
and  Jack,  who  saw  the  dawn  in  his  eyes,  wisely  left  him 
to  his  own  thoughts. 

Perhaps  it  was  the  old  strong  feeling  of  pride  that 
saved  him.  For  at  first  he  turned  to  stoicism,  and 
steeled  himself  against  the  inevitable,  like  those  grim 
philosophers  of  old.  But  gradually  a  truer  mood  came 
to  him.  One  afternoon,  when  the  tide  had  turned,  he 
stood  at  the  window  and  looked  up  into  a  broken  sky 
banked  with  clouds.  At  times  the  sun  broke  through 
a  crevice  and  flooded  him  with  light.  He  stood  won 
dering  at  the  massive  architecture  of  the  sky  in  a 
deeply  reverent  mood.  And  there  —  all  at  once  —  he 
looked  back  over  his  life  and  saw  himself  as  he  really 
was  —  the  truth,  the  courage,  and  the  strength.  It  was 
a  revelation.  He  drew  a  deep  breath,  and  throwing 
back  his  head,  gazed  up  through  the  white  gates  into 
the  deep  of  the  blue  beyond.  He  had  apprehended  his 
soul  at  last  —  the  good  in  it,  the  humbleness,  the  patient 
search  for  the  ideal,  the  resignation,  and  the  nobility. 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  403 

And  quick  on  that  awakening  came  the  thought  that  if 
through  temptations,  through  sorrow,  through  the  real 
blackness  and  the  false  shadows  of  his  youth,  he  had 
come  into  the  strength  of  his  manhood,  there  must  be 
a  something  divine  in  him.  This  it  was  that  had  car 
ried  him  through  doubt  and  discouragement  and  unbe 
lief —  too  strong  to  let  him  fall,  even  though  he  invited 
such  an  end.  All  at  once,  as  though  the  heavens  had 
opened,  a  light  came  into  his  eyes,  and  he  said  almost 
in  a  whisper,  "Yes,  I  see;"  and  that  night,  when  he  had 
heard  Emily  say  her  prayer,  and  she  had  fallen  fast 
asleep,  he  knelt  down  by  her  bedside,  and,  covering  his 
face,  he  prayed.  It  was  not  a  prayer  —  it  was  the 
simple  acclaiming  of  his  own  soul,  the  recognition  that 
within  him  something  greater  than  his  understanding 
had  existed  and  would  exist,  forever  and  ever. 

He  went  to  bed  that  night  before  ten  o'clock  and 
slept  like  a  child.  He  came  downstairs  on  the  morrow, 
to  find  Jack  already  at  breakfast.  His  friend  started  up 
at  the  sight  of  his  face. 

" It  is  done,  Veni,  vidi,  vici"  said  John,  holding  out 
his  hand.  "  And  this  morning  I  am  going  over  to  send 
my  acceptance  to  Blodgett."  There  was  the  old  light 
of  ambition  in  his  eyes.  Jack  dropped  down  in  his  seat, 
saying,  with  a  comical  face,  "  John,  I  feel  like  a  woman 
—  I'd  like  a  good  cry." 

"  Well,  Johnnie  Gay,  we've  stood  together,  you  and  I, 
until  thirty-six,"  said  John,  with  a  genuine  laugh.  "  I 
don't  believe  any  other  man  ever  had  such  a  friend  as 
you;  and  we'll  stand  together — until  —  until  it  please 
God  to  take  us." 

He  walked  to  the  nearest  office  and  sent  the  telegram 
to  Blodgett.  There  was  a  spring  of  elation  in  his  step, 
and  a  flash  of  triumph  in  his  eye  as  he  came  back,  as 


4o4  ARROWS   OF  THE   ALMIGHTY 

though  he  were  prepared  for  any  good  fortune.  He 
had  learned  much  in  a  day  of  the  wonder  and  mystery  of 
life,  where  every  soul,  whatever  aids  it  may  get,  must 
work  out  its  own  end,  sooner  or  later,  fighting  alone 
until  its  battle  is  ended. 

As  he  came  in  sight  of  his  home,  he  saw  the  figure  of 
a  woman  staring  from  the  window  into  the  park,  and 
said,  "  Somewhere  I  know  she  is ;  somewhere  I  know  I 
shall  meet  her  again." 

He  went  up  the  steps,  turning  with  a  new  zest  to  in 
hale  the  fragrance  of  the  flower-beds  across  the  street, 
and  let  himself  in  with  his  key. 

Then  just  as  he  had  put  away  his  cane  and  had  his 
foot  on  the  step,  there  came  from  above  the  shock  of  an 
explosion,  the  crash  of  broken  glass,  and  then  a  cry  in 
his  wife's  voice.  He  bounded  up  the  stairs  —  up  another 
flight  —  into  a  room  filled  with  smoke.  In  the  centre 
Jack  was  standing  with  a  puzzled  look,  a  smoking  gun 
in  one  hand,  a  cleaning-rod  in  the  other.  A  shattered 
pane  in  the  window  told  the  rest. 

"  John  ! "  came  a  voice  out  of  the  past. 

The  two  stood  still,  staring  blankly  at  each  other. 
The  voice  was  from  Marjory's  room.  John  began  to 
tremble  so  that  Jack  put  out  his  arm  to  steady  him. 

"John!" 

John  broke  from  him,  great  beads  of  sweat  standing 
on  his  forehead,  and  went  reeling,  swaying,  along  the 
hall  into  her  room,  and  closed  the  door  and  leaned — fell 
back  against  it. 

He  saw  her  in  the  chair  by  the  window  start  forward 
and  draw  her  hand  in  a  dazed  way  across  her  eyes. 

"John,  John  —  are  you  hurt?  Oh,  speak  to  me, 
speak  to  me  !  "  Her  words  fell  on  his  fainting  senses. 
"Why  —  where  is — where  is  the  doctor  —  and  my 


ARROWS  OF  THE  ALMIGHTY  405 

baby  ?    Why,  John,  how  strange  you  look  !    What  is  it  ? 
Where  are  you  ? " 

The  furniture,  the  walls,  the  room,  whirled  about  him ; 
the  light  of  day  went  out  black  to  his  eyes.  He  groped, 
he  stumbled,  he  fell  forward  on  his  knees,  he  stretched 
out  his  arms,  calling  in  a  heart-rending  voice  pierced  with 
the  pain  of  a  great  joy,  "  Marjory  —  my  Marjory !  " 


THE  HERITAGE  OF  UNREST 


BY 


GWENDOLEN   OVERTON 
Cloth.     i2mo.     $1.50 


A  novel  of  the  army  on  the  frontier  during  the  time  of  the  Indian 
outbreaks  under  Geronimo  and  others  in  the  late  seventies.  His 
torically  the  book  is  valuable  —  though  this  is  nearly  forgotten  in 
its  interest  —  as  a  picture  of  scenes  that  can  never  be  repeated ;  a 
book  which  American  social  literature  could  ill  afford  to  lose  — 
while  it  is  also  an  absorbing  love  story. 


"A  picture  of  the  great  West  —  the  West  of  the  days  of  the 
Apache  raids  —  clear  and  vivid." — Baltimore  Sun. 

"'The  Heritage  of  Unrest'  is  a  remarkable  book,  and  in  all 
respects  it  is  an  interesting  departure  from  the  current  line  of 
fiction.  It  is  a  story  of  American  army  life  fully  matching  the 
frontier  sketches  of  Owen  Wister,  and  told  with  such  touches  of 
offhand  colloquialism,  now  and  again,  as  might  mark  the  work  of  a 
Yankee  Kipling."  —  New  York  World. 

"  In  every  respect  —  character,  plot,  style,  scenes,  descriptions, 
and  personages  —  the  book  is  unconventional  .  .  .  refreshing." 

—  Boston  Herald. 

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66  FIFTH   AVENUE,   NEW  YORK 


THE    LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF 
RICHARD    YEA    AND    NAY 

By  MAURICE  HEWLETT 
Author  of  "  The  Forest  Lovers,"  "  Little  Novels  of  Italy,"  etc. 

Cloth.     12  mo.     $1.50 


"  The  hero  of  Mr.  Hewlett's  latest  novel  is  Richard  Coeur  de  Lion,  whose 
character  is  peculiarly  suited  to  the  author's  style.  It  is  on  a  much  wider 
plan  than  '  The  Forest  Lovers,'  and  while  not  historical  in  the  sense  of 
attempting  to  follow  events  with  utmost  exactness,  it  will  be  found  to  give 
an  accurate  portrayal  of  the  life  of  the  day,  such  as  might  well  be  expected 
from  the  author's  previous  work.  There  is  a  varied  and  brilliant  back 
ground,  the  scene  shifting  from  France  to  England,  and  also  to  Palestine. 
In  a  picturesque  way,  and  a  way  that  compels  the  sympathies  of  his  readers, 
Mr.  Hewlett  reads  into  the  heart  of  King  Richard  Cceur  de  Lion,  showing 
how  he  was  torn  by  two  natures  and  how  the  title  '  Yea  and  Nay '  was 
peculiarly  significant  of  his  character."  —  Boston  Herald. 

"  The  tale  by  itself  is  marvellously  told  ;  full  of  luminous  poetry  ; 
intensely  human  in  its  passion  ;  its  style,  forceful  and  picturesque  ;  its 
background,  a  picture  of  beauty  and  mysterious  loveliness ;  the  whole, 
radiant  with  the  very  spirit  of  romanticism  as  lofty  in  tone  and  as  serious 
in  purpose  as  an  epic  poem.  It  is  a  book  that  stands  head  and  shoulders 
above  the  common  herd  of  novels  —  the  work  of  a  master  hand."  — — 
Indianapolis  News. 

"  Mr.  Hewlett  has  done  one  of  the  most  notable  things  in  recent  litera 
ture,  a  thing  to  talk  about  with  abated  breath,  as  a  bit  of  master-craftsman 
ship  touched  by  the  splendid  dignity  of  real  creation."  —  The  Interior. 


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IN   THE  PALACE  OF  THE   KING 

H  Low  Story  of  Old  Madrid 

By  F.    MARION    CRAWFORD 
Author  of  "  Via  Cruets,"  "  Saracinesca,"  ete. 

Illustrated  by  FRED  ROB 
Cloth.      12mo.      $1.50 


"  Marion  Crawford's  latest  story,  '  In  the  Palace  of  the  King,'  is  quite 
up  to  the  level  of  his  best  works  for  cleverness,  grace  of  style,  and  sus 
tained  interest.  It  is,  besides,  to  some  extent  a  historical  story,  the  scene 
being  the  royal  palace  at  Madrid,  and  the  author  drawing  the  characters 
of  Philip  II.  and  Don  John  of  Austria  with  an  attempt,  in  a  broad,  im 
pressionist  way,  at  historic  faithfulness.  His  reproduction  of  the  life  at 
the  Spanish  court  is  as  brilliant  and  picturesque  as  any  of  his  Italian 
scenes,  and  in  minute  study  of  detail  is,  in  a  real  and  valuable  sense,  true 
history."  —  The  Advance. 

"  Mr.  Crawford  has  taken  a  love  story  of  vital  interest  and  has  related 
the  web  of  facts  simply,  swiftly,  and  with  moderation  ...  a  story  as 
brilliant  as  it  is  romantic  in  its  setting.  Here  his  genius  for  story  telling 
is  seen  at  its  best."  —  Boston  Herald. 

"  For  sustained  intensity  and  graphic  description  Marion  Crawford's  new 
novel  is  inapproachable  in  the  field  of  recent  fiction."  —  Times  Union,  Albany. 

"  Don  John  of  Austria's  secret  marriage  with  the  daughter  of  one  of 
King  Philip's  officers  is  the  culminating  point  of  this  story.  .  .  .  An 
assassination,  a  near  approach  to  a  palace  revolution,  a  great  scandal, 
and  some  very  pretty  love-making,  besides  much  planning  and  plotting, 
take  place."  —  Boston  Transcript. 

"  Mr.  Crawford  wastes  no  time  in  trying  to  re-create  history,  but  puts 
his  reader  into  the  midst  of  those  bygone  scenes  and  makes  him  live  in 
them.  .  .  .  In  scenes  of  stirring  dramatic  intensity.  .  .  .  It  all  seems  in 
tensely  real  so  long  as  one  is  under  the  novelist's  spell."  — Chicago  Tribune. 

"  No  man  lives  who  can  endow  a  love  tale  with  a  rarer  charm  than 
Crawford."  —  San  Francisco  Evening  Bulletin. 

"No  book  of  the  season  has  been  more  eagerly  anticipated,  and  none 
has  given  more  complete  satisfaction  ...  a  drama  of  marvellous  power 
and  exceptional  brilliancy,  forceful  and  striking  .  .  .  holding  the  reader's 
interest  spell-bound  from  the  first  page  of  the  story  to  the  last,  reached 
all  too  soon."  —  The  Augusta  Herald. 


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THE  REIGN   OF  LAW 

H  Cale  of  the  Kentucky  Rcmpficlda 

By  JAMES    LANE  ALLEN 
Author  of  "The  Choir  Invisible,"  "A  Kentucky  Cardinal,"  etc. 

Illustrated  by  J.  C.  EARL  and  HARRY  FENN 
Cloth.       12mo.      $1.50 


"The  whole  book  is  a  brilliant  defence  of  Evolution,  a  scholarly  state- 
ment  of  the  case.  Never  before  has  that  great  science  been  so  presented; 
never  before  has  there  been  such  a  passionate  yet  thrilling  appeal." 

—  Courier  Journal. 

"  This  is  a  tremendous  subject  to  put  into  a  novel ;  but  the  effort  is  so 
daring,  and  the  treatment  so  frank  and  masterly  on  its  scientific  side,  that 
the  book  is  certain  to  command  a  wide  hearing,  perhaps  to  provoke  wide 
controversy."  —  Tribune,  Chicago. 

" '  When  a  man  has  heard  the  great  things  calling  to  him,  how  they  call, 
and  call,  day  and  night,  day  and  night ! '  This  is  really  the  foundation  idea, 
the  golden  text,  of  Mr.  James  Lane  Allen's  new  and  remarkable  novel." 

—  Evening  Transcript,  Boston. 

"  In  all  the  characteristics  that  give  Mr.  Allen's  novels  such  distinction 
and  charm  'The  Reign  of  Law'  is  perhaps  supreme  .  .  .  but  it  is  pre 
eminently  the  study  of  a  soul  .  .  .  religion  is  here  the  dominant  note." 

—  The  New  York  Times1  Saturday  Review, 

"  In  David  there  is  presented  one  of  the  noblest  types  of  our  fiction  ; 
the  incarnation  of  brilliant  mentality  and  splendid  manhood.  .  .  .  No 
portrait  in  contemporary  literature  is  more  symbolic  of  truth  and  honor." 

—  The  Times,  Louisville. 

"  Mr.  Allen  has  a  style  as  original  and  almost  as  perfectly  finished  as 
Hawthorne's,  and  he  has  also  Hawthorne's  fondness  for  spiritual  sug 
gestion  that  makes  all  his  stories  rich  in  the  qualities  that  are  lacking  in  so 
many  novels  of  the  period.  ...  If  read  in  the  right  way,  it  cannot  fail 
to  add  to  one's  spiritual  possessions."  —  San  Francisco  Chronicle. 


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66  FIFTH  AVENUE,  NEW  YORK 


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